In Memoriam : Mary Meling

Mary E. Meling - age: 92
(August 27, 1923 to November 18, 2015 )
Resident of Visalia, California

Visitation Information:
Graveside Services will be held on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 10:00 am at the Exeter District Cemetery.

Obituary:
Mary E. Meling, 92 years old, died peacefully on November 18, 2015 in Modesto, California. Mary was born in Exeter, California, on August 27, 1923 to Eugene and Victoria Coombs Drane. The family lived in the Yokohl Valley. Mary graduated from Exeter High School and attended the College of Sequoias in Visalia. In 1947, she married Melvin Meling, a Lindsay native. Together they developed and operated Meling Brothers Ranches with his brother, Torres and wife Gladys and family in the rural areas of Ivanhoe, Stone Corral, and Le Grand. They made their home north of Ivanhoe. Mary’s husband, Melvin, preceded her in death in 1974, and Mary continued to help manage the citrus ranches up until just a few years ago. She also worked for Morgan and Nash Insurance in Visalia for a number of years. She was a regular volunteer for the Kaweah Delta Hospital Guild.

Mary is survived by her two sons: John L. Meling and his wife, Cathy of Modesto, Ca and Eric M. Meling and his wife Maggie of Visalia, Ca. She was the proud and caring grandmother to five grandchildren and five great grandchildren: June James and her husband Lance and children Hunter and Naomi; Brenda Meling; Patricia Pendley and her husband Derek and children Kendra, Ivan, and Hazel; Erin Staehely and her husband Evan; Brooke Heinlein and her husband Jon. Mary is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Mary was predeceased by her two sisters, Beulah Brown and Julia Becker.

Mary will be remembered by friends and family as a quiet, independent, strong woman who had a significant role in the Meling Bros. farming operation. She was a loving and influential mother to her children and grandchildren. Her work ethic and attention to details were admired by all of her family and friends. In her final years, she moved to an assisted living residence in Modesto, CA.

Mary will be fondly remembered by all of her family and friends. Memorial services will be held at the Exeter Cemetery on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 10:00 a.m.