Larey Wayne Melton

Larey Wayne Melton was born October 21, 1945 in Paris, TX.  He is the son of Daniel Greyford Melton and Kathryn Budrow Melton.  They lived in Paris for a short time and then moved to Greenville, TX where Larey spent a part of his childhood in the Revlon area of Greenville.  At the age of 9, the family moved to Dallas, TX where Larey spent his remaining school years attending Mount Alburn Elementary, JL Long Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High school.  He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1964.

During those years he met his sweetheart DeLeen Stark.  They dated throughout their childhood years and were married on June 21, 1965.   In April of 1966, their first son was born, Kevin Blake Melton and then in November of 1968, they had their second son Kyle Wayne Melton.  The family lived in the Dallas/Mesquite area until 1978 when they moved to a farm just west of Commerce, TX.  Larey had always wanted to raise the boys on the farm as he had spent many childhood summers at his Grandparents’ farm located about a mile down the road.

When Larey and DeLeen were first married, Larey worked at the Dallas Times Herald as a district manager.  Around 1970, he began selling Chevrolet trucks and did so for approximately 20 years.  When his sons finished college, he semi-retired to the farm working the cows and other farm activities.  He held a part time job at Walmart until he officially retired and kept some cows on the farm to enjoy.

In his later years, he spent much of his time attending his grandkids’ activities, tending to the farm and enjoying life on the back porch with family and friends.

He passed away on December 22, 2021, next to his family after a short battle with cancer.   He is preceded in death by his father, Daniel Melton, mother, Kathryn Melton, and sister, Diane Melton Fox.  He leaves behind his wife, DeLeen, of 56 years, his two sons, Kevin and Kyle, daughters-in-law, Dee Ann Melton and Shanna Melton, grand children Micah Walker and wife, Kaleigh; Kadee Todd and husband, Garrett; Kaitlyn Melton and Kamryn Melton.  He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and related family members.