McMinnville resident and native Melba Jean Curtis, 74, was born Aug. 23, 1939 and died Oct. 29 at NHC Healthcare in McMinnville following an extended illness.A retired employee from Oster Corporation and a member of Shellsford Baptist Church, she was the daughter of the late Saint E. and Maggie Lou Muncey Rogers. She was married to first husband Beverly Carl Brown, who preceded her in death May 13, 1983, and second husband, Beachel Lee Curtis, who preceded her in death Sept. 14, 2011. In addition to her husbands and parents, she was preceded in death by brothers-in-law, Tony Curtis, Rodean Curtis and L.A. Brown; and sister-in-law, Icalee Dowell.She is survived by two sons and daughter-in-law, Dwayne and Sheila Brown of McMinnville and Carlos Brown of Nolensville; two stepsons and their wives, Lt. Col. Sean and Tamera Curtis of Florida and Lt. Col. (retired) Shane and Debbie Curtis of Kansas; seven grandchildren, Dustin Brown, Nicole Smith, McKenna Curtis, Mariah Curtis, Jack Curtis, Max Curtis and Paul Curtis; two great-grandchildren, Alyx Smith and Anniston Smith; two sisters and brother-in-law, Lillie and Elmer Rutledge of McMinnville and Wilma Rogers of McMinnville; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Lonnie and Rita Rogers of the Irving College community, and Donnie and Patty Rogers of Rock Island; three brothers-in-law and their wives, Glenn and Joyce Brown of McMinnville, Cleston Curtis of Rock Island, and Avery and Teresa Curtis of McMinnville; four sisters-in-law and their husbands, Melba and Thomas Muncey of Morrison, Clema Owen of Texas, Carol and Bill Herriman of McMinnville and Estella Brown of McMinnville; several nieces, nephews and cousins; and special friends, Tyrone and Treva Sparkman and the Ladies at Shellsford Baptist Church.Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at High’s Chapel with Kenneth W. Kirby and David Daugherty officiating.
Melba Jean Curtis, 74