Melba Tarver

The family of Melba Joyce Tarver rejoices in their precious mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great, great grandmother’s “Victory in Jesus.” Early morning of June the 28th she completed her work on this earth and entered the gates of Heaven.

Melba was the second child of Talmage and Bennie Lay. She joined her older sister, Billie Jane, on November 26th 1932, and was later joined by two younger brothers and four younger sisters. Her large caregiver personality was the perfect fit to this large family. She was always there to support and love her family in her quiet, sweet way. She was a good daughter and a good sister.

December 17, 1949, Melba married her best friend, Charles David Tarver. For the next forty-seven years, she was a great wife and mother to her two children, David Joe Tarver and Montie Pat Tarver Garner. Mother continued her service to others in many ways.

A good neighbor to a fabulous neighborhood on Dawn Avenue and later Rocky Lane. A good “Miss Melba” at the St. Luke’s Mother’s Day Out Program in Odessa. A good grandmother to her two precious grandchildren, Stacie and Clint. A good great grandmother to the “Fabulous Five,” Rylee, Jaycee, Ashton, Blake and Chase. A good great, great grandmother to a little fella that held her heart.

Melba was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Tarver; her parents, Talmage and Bennie Lay; two brothers, T.B. Lay, Jr. and William Lay; two sisters, Billie Jane Hampton and Martha Young; and daughter in law, Debbie Tarver.

Melba is survived by her son, Dr. Dave Tarver ; her daughter, Montie Garner and husband Richard Harrell Garner; granddaughter, Stacie Pruitt and family, Jeb, Jaycee and Blake; grandson, Clint Garner and family, Dawn, Rylee, Ashton, Chase, Jacob and Crew; sisters, Wanda McKnight, Donna Humble and Jimmie Sanders; and a larger number of nieces and nephews, plus a host of incredibly good friends including her very dear friend of 67 years, Morene Stribling and very special friends and neighbors, Tracey and Barry Borchardt.

Memorials may be given, and appreciated, to Odessa College and Meals on Wheels Odessa. The family of Melba Tarver will be forever grateful to Brookdale Assisted Living Facility, Home Hospice of Odessa, Morene Stribling and Tracey and Barry Borchardt.

A graveside service at Sunset Memorial Gardens will be held on Saturday, July the 6th, 2024 at 2:00 PM, with Lynn Money officiating. A reception will immediately follow at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, in the Family Center, 6801 E. Business 20, Odessa, TX, 79762.