Melva Ray Yates Whitehead went to be with the Lord on Sept. 18th, 2024. She was born on Aug. 7, 1933, in Polk County. She is survived by her husband, Willie Hayne Whitehead; her daughter, Lynda Whitehead Crofford and her husband, Rick; her son, Craig Whitehead and his wife, Kim; and her son, Bruce Whitehead and his wife, Courtney. She also has nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Melva was an extraordinary person in so many ways. She always put the needs of others before her own. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dear friend to many people. She had a difficult childhood where she was responsible for much of the household cooking, cleaning, and caring for her younger brother, but she still excelled at everything she did. After graduating from high school at age 15, she attended nursing school and graduated at the top of her class. She was selected to be the surgery scrub nurse for Michael DeBakey, who did the first heart transplant.
She and her husband, Willie, were married for 73 years. Melva was a devoted wife and mother. Her faith was essential to her. She laid a solid spiritual foundation for her children and displayed her faith daily in many practical ways. During her life, she was involved in numerous church and community activities, holding multiple leadership positions. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and cooking. One of her grandsons said that she was a compulsive cookie maker. She was also passionate about genealogy and compiled more than 17,000 names in her and Willie’s family tree. She was blessed with an almost photographic memory and could easily recall many dates and facts from multiple generations.
Melva will be greatly missed, but there is no doubt that she is looking down from Heaven and cheering us all on to finish well. A memorial service was held at the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel at 212 Old Groveton Road in Onalaska on Monday, Sept. 23. A visitation was held before the service.
Cochran Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Please sign our online guestbook at www.cochranfh.com. 357
