Funeral services for Mrs. Willie Mae Deason Mellinger, age 96 of Tracy, CA, formerly of Dubach, were held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at Harmony Chapel United Methodist Church in Hico. Officiating the service was Rev. John Lord. Burial followed in Harmony Chapel Cemetery under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston.

Mrs. Mellinger was born July 5, 1918 in Hico to James Thomas Beckham and Mary Lear Beckham. She died June 13, 2015 in Tracy, CA. Mrs. Mellinger worked for 25 years at Lewis’ Stagg Shop in Ruston. She was a member of Harmony Chapel United Methodist Church. She was proud of the fact that during WWII she helped the war effort by working in a ship yard. Mrs. Mellinger was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands: William Elmer Deason and George Mellinger; her daughter: Martha Lucille Deason Lee; son: William “Spud” Deason; brothers: Aldon Beckham, Garland Beckham, Roy Beckham and John T. “Jack” Beckham; her sisters: Mildred Stepp, Nancy Brooks, and Ruby Barnett and her great grandchild: Elizabeth Ann Green Popwell.

Mrs. Mellinger is survived by her son: Robert Preston Deason and wife D. of Tracy, CA;
Daughter-in-law: Randy Deason of Hico; grandchildren: Renee Quinn and husband John Fugate of Mountain View, CA, Gerald Lee and wife Meg of Weldon, Sabrina and husband George Green of Dubach and Marshal Deason and wife Kaye of Little Elm, TX; great grandchildren: Tyler Lee, Jacob Lee, Jared Lee, Wendy and husband Matt Hinton, William Dale Green and Jackson Wyatt Deason; great-great grandchildren J.P. Hinton and Jewel Hinton as well as numerous nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Pallbearers were: John R. Burnham, James H. Burnham, Jermey Burnham, Jason Burnham, Justin Burnham and Layton Burnham. Visitation was held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Monday, June 22, 2015 at Harmony Chapel United Methodist Church.