Shorty Melson, 1919-2007

Published Thursday, December 20, 2007

Correction appended

George N. "Shorty" Melson, 88, of Mexico, Mo., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2007, at Audrain Medical Center after a brief illness.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 23, at Arnold Funeral Home in Mexico with a Masonic Service at 8 a.m. Interment will follow in East Lawn Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Arnold Funeral Home.

A lifelong resident of Audrain County, Shorty was born in Mexico on Jan. 18, 1919, the son of George Norton and Minerva Johnson Melson.

Shorty was a 1937 graduate of Mexico High School and attended both the University of Missouri in Columbia and Oklahoma A&M University. On Aug. 27, 1941, Shorty made the best decision of his life, marrying a cute local girl, the petite Mary Beth Pearl, commencing a love affair that knew no end. A few months after marriage, Shorty was inducted into the United States Army, where he served in the intelligence division. His service in both the Pacific and European theaters of operation during World War II earned him three bronze stars and four campaign ribbons. After the war ended, Shorty returned from Europe to the United States and to his bride on the Queen Mary.

Shorty was self-employed, owning and operating service stations in Mexico, Melson’s Hardware Store in Centralia and Melson’s Drug Store in Auxvasse.

He also farmed, and for a number of years he and Mary Beth raised the sweetest strawberries in Central Missouri.

Shorty was also well-known for his skills as a baker, baking bread, rolls and fruit-filled stollen for his friends and family and for every Kiwanis and Methodist fundraiser that came along. His grandchildren didn’t know for many years that most people bought bread ready-made from the store - they were raised on "Pop’s toast." Shorty was also known for his country ham, and for many Mid-Missourians a home MU Tigers football game was not complete without a stop by the Melson/Ingrum tailgate for one of Shorty’s country ham sandwiches on homemade bread.

Shorty was a member of the Mexico United Methodist Church for 81 years. He was also a member of the Mexico Kiwanis Club, and in 2005 he received a certificate from the club for 29 years of perfect attendance. He was given the Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award in 1996 and in 2005 received the George Hixson Award, the Kiwanis’ highest award. Shorty also was a member of the Mexico Masonic Lodge.

In addition to his darling Mary Beth, Shorty is survived by his children, Robert Melson and wife Barb of Columbia, Ginny Melson Collinsworth and husband Dan of Dallas and India Melson of Cheyenne, Wyo.; grandchildren, Brooke Melson of Austin, Texas, Lindsey Melson Robb and husband Aaron of Columbia, Marachel Citarello of Mexico, Joseph Plummer of Long Beach, Calif., Mattson Plummer of Dallas, Texas, Ally and Peter Tarter of Brentwood, Calif., and Jason Collinsworth of Dallas; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Shorty will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Shorty was preceded in death by his parents as well as his brother, Robert Melson; and a sister, Mary Virginia Brown.

The family suggests contributions in Short’s memory to the Mexico United Methodist Church or to the Mexico Kiwanis Club, in care of Arnold Funeral Home.

Condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com.

SECOND THOUGHTS: Friday, December 21, 2007

An obituary yesterday for George Melson Jr. should have said visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 22, at Arnold Funeral Home in Mexico, Mo., with a Masonic service at 8 p.m.