Melva Hatcher

Funeral services for Mrs. Melva Hatcher, 83, of Linden, Texas, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Shiloh Methodist Church.  Burial will follow at Shiloh Cemetery, under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Linden. There will be a time of visitation with family and friends beginning one hour prior to service time Saturday at the church.

Following the service, family and friends are warmly invited to join the family at 12:00 p.m. for one of Melva’s favorite Linden traditions, sharing fajitas together at Uncle Juan’s.

Melva Ann Hatcher passed away on July 20, 2026, at the age of 83.

Melva was born on April 4, 1943, in McAlester, Oklahoma. She spent her childhood in McAlester, where she and her brother, Arthur Russell Carr, sang in a prison ministry between bouts of youthful mischief. During her teenage years, she and her brother went to live with their mother and stepfather in San Antonio before the family eventually settled in Irving, Texas, where Melva graduated from Irving High School.

It was in Irving that she met James Oscar “Buddy” Hatcher, whom she would later marry. Melva worked as a cosmetologist for a time before dedicating herself to raising her family. Together, Melva and Buddy had two children: Samuel Hatcher, born in 1967, and Georgianna Newburg, born in 1973. They shared a loving marriage until Buddy’s passing in 2015.

Melva was a gifted artist and craftsperson whose talents ranged from creating custom porcelain dolls to weaving intricate baskets. She had a special love for flower arranging and took great joy in decorating for the Christmas season.

For many years, Melva served as a teacher’s aide in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB) Independent School District, where she also devoted countless hours to the PTA. Through her work with special needs children and her involvement in the schools, she found a true sense of purpose and fulfillment.

In her younger years, Melva was an avid hunter. In later years, she found just as much happiness watching the deer outside her window each morning while enjoying breakfast. She was also a devoted Dallas Cowboys fan. During close games, she could often be found trying to influence the outcome with determined body English from her favorite chair, convinced that if she leaned just the right way, it might help the Cowboys pull out a victory.

Melva’s heart extended not only to people but also to animals in need of love. A routine trip to the veterinarian with one dog or cat often resulted in another furry friend joining the family on the ride home. At one point, she and Buddy lovingly cared for eleven dogs and cats at the same time. Every one of them found a safe and loving home because Melva simply could not turn away an animal that needed kindness.

Melva loved the Lord and faithfully attended Shiloh Methodist Church in Linden, Texas. She loved unconditionally and was a sweet, loving, generous, and kind woman whose greatest joy was making the people she loved happy. Her warmth, compassion, and gentle spirit touched everyone who knew her, and she leaves behind a legacy of love that will continue through her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Oscar “Buddy” Hatcher; her mother, JoAnn Simon; her stepfather, George Simon; her brother, Arthur Russell Carr; her niece, Christina Carr; and her aunt, Regina Kline.

She is survived by her son, Samuel Hatcher; her daughter, Georgianna Newburg; her son-in-law, Ray Newburg; her grandson, Gabriel Newburg; niece, Kelsey Crane; many cherished relatives and friends; and her beloved cat, Petunia.

Though she will be deeply missed, her family finds comfort in knowing that she is home with her Lord. Her unconditional love, unwavering kindness, generous heart, and joyful spirit will remain in the hearts of all who were blessed to know her.