Beverly Brooks Melton's Obituary
Beverly Brooks Melton, 85, of Fayetteville, entered Heaven’s Gates from her home at 3:00 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013 from metastic melanoma. Born in Denver, Colorado August 6, 1928, Beverly lead a vivacious life filled with family and friends. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, Beverly’s interests included synchronized swimming and theater dance. She was the featured swimmer in many Aquatic Reviews, including the opening of the Colorado Springs Broodmoor Hotel in 1950. Following her adventurous spirit, Beverly attended graduate school at the Univeristy of Hawaii in Honolulu, where she met her husband, a Naval Officer, the late Dr. C. Garland Melton, Jr. of Fayetteville, on a blind date aboard an aircraft carrier moored in Pearl Harbor.
Married in 1956, the couple settled in Fayetteville where Beverly became active within the community. She established and coached the area’s first synchronized swimming team, the Aquaquettes. A leader in the American Red Cross, Beverly directed the Learn to Swim program every summer at the Fayetteville City Pool for over twelve years. Additionally, she became Northwest Arkansas’ only Water Safety Instructor Trainer, teaching a generation of the area’s Lifeguards. For ten years, if you wanted to get a job as a Lifeguard at any pool in NWA, you had to pass Beverly’s class.
During her 56 years in Fayetteville, Beverly was uncommonly civic-minded and took on roles in many different groups and associations including the Fayetteville Jaycettes, Garden Club, Phi Mu Alumnae, Fayetteville Public Schools advisory committee; Fayetteville Youth Center Board of Directors; City of Fayetteville Community Development advisory board; Central United Methodist Church Stephen Ministry, Asbury Sunday School, Caring, Grief & Loss Ministry; Altrusa, and was a Master Gardener life member. Her working life included Downtown Fayetteville Unlimited, Campbell-Bell Department Store, Charter Vista Hospital, Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic, and most recently, the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.
Beverly is survived by her two daughters, Marsha Melton Andress and husband Scott, of Little Rock; and Melissa Melton Turner and husband Lance, of Fayetteville; three grandsons, Leland R. Turner of Fayetteville, D. Kyle Turner of Fayetteville, and William S. Andress, Jr. of Little Rock.
Living life to its fullest, Beverly actively sought opportunities to bring joy into the lives of others; her example sets the bar high for those left behind to follow.
Family visitation is planned from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, September 3, at Moore’s Chapel Funeral Home in Fayetteville. Memorial Service in celebration of Beverly’s life will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at Central United Methodist Church in Fayetteville. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Red Cross.
Arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Chapel Funeral Home.
What’s your fondest memory of Beverly?
What’s a lesson you learned from Beverly?
Share a story where Beverly's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Beverly you’ll never forget.
How did Beverly make you smile?