Melba Knost

(From Ulmer Funeral Home)

Melba Corrine Adkins Knost, 79, of Carthage, Missouri, passed from this life after a lengthy illness on Wednesday June 29, 2016. Melba was born in Joplin, Missouri to Roger Garland Adkins and Gladys Mary Hodge. She was the youngest of four siblings. She lived in Duquesne where she went to school through eighth grade and then spent her high school years at Joplin High School where she graduated in 1954. She also lived in Duenweg, Wentworth and Carthage.

Melba was the mother of four children. She enjoyed being part of their activities which included band, piano lessons, and FFA and rarely missed one of them. She was involved in the Carthage, Jasper County, Missouri State PTA and Green Acres 4-H. She enjoyed flower gardening, genealogy, family reunions, west Texas visits to see family, and in her later life, playing computer games, and drinking Coca Cola. She was a member of the First Christian Church, Carthage. She attended Joplin Business School receiving her Bookkeeper’s certification and worked for a number of businesses in that capacity including Howard Buick, Orbit Products, Delta Farms, Joplin Stockyards, Revival Fires, and Jasper CO Farm Bureau Insurance.

She is survived by her two sons Gary Don and wife Susan of Carthage; David of Carthage; and daughter, Debbie and husband Tobie Sanders of Perkins, Oklahoma; her brother, Flavious Adkins and wife, Evelyn of Troy, Mo; sister, Nadine Hansen and husband, Max of Seneca; sister-in-law Ann Adkins, of Nevada; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren plus a number of cousins, nieces and nephews; and a special friend Liz Hawks of Carthage.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Leroy Adkins; infant daughter, Karen; and, son-in-law, Taz LaFollette. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church Hospital Equipment Fund, Meals on Wheels McCune Brooks Hospital program in care of the Ulmer Funeral Home Carthage Mo.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 12:30-2:30, Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at the Lighthouse, First Christian Church, 801 S Main St., Carthage, Mo. Online condolences may be sent at www.ulmerfh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Ulmer Funeral Home.