Melveta Fern (Barnett) Green March 23, 1927 ~ January 19, 2022 (age 94)

Obituary

Graveside services for Melveta Green, 94, of Portales, will be held at 1:00 PM, Mon. Jan. 24, 2022 in the Portales Cemetery with Kenneth Broad and Don Thomas officiating.  Members of the Good Sams RV Club and the Antique Car Club will be honorary pallbearers.  The family will receive guests at the funeral home on Monday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to Central Christian Church in her memory.

Melveta Fern Green was born Mar. 23, 1927, in Kenna, NM to the home of Elbertine (Smith) and Homer Barnett, and died on the evening of Jan. 19, 2022 in Portales.  Her father was a teacher in Kenna, and she was born at home in the upstairs portion of a building that had been the local bar, but had been converted to a “Teacherage.”  Portales became her home at a fairly early age, and she remained a resident for the remainder of her life.  On Nov. 25, 1942, Melveta was married to Loyd Green.  Their home was blessed with a daughter and two sons.  She and Mr. Green enjoyed restoring old cars, and were active in the Antique Car Club.  Mr. Green preceded her in death on June 22, 1978.  On Mar. 10, 1980, she was married to Roy M. Smith.  Together they enjoyed traveling with the Good Sams.  Mr. Smith also preceded her in death on Feb. 13, 1995.

Melveta was a faithful and active member of the Central Christian Church.  For many years she carried the responsibility for arranging funeral dinners, and making sure that meals were provided for shut-ins and others in need.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Karl Cox of Rogers, NM; a son and daughter-in-law, Lowell and Connie Green of Lufkin, TX; six grandchildren, Cilena Epperly, Allen (Samantha) Epperly, Kenneth (Debbie) Cox, Joel (Sheila) Green, Jennifer (Brian) Collins and Kelley (Cory) Johnson; 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Glenna Barnett of Kansas; and a very special family friend, Cartha Jean Sherburne of Portales.  Besides both of her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Dr. T. M. Barnett and Clarence Barnett and a son, Dennis Green.