Melba Pauline Crabtree

Melba Pauline Crabtree, 82, Nevada, passed from this life on Thursday, Dec. 1, at Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada. Melba was born Dec. 23, 1933, in Foster, Mo., to Claude G. and Lorene M. (Hooper) Hines. In 1952 she was united in marriage to Robert Kinney and to this union six children were born. She later married Hal Crabtree on February 29, 1984, and he preceded her in death in 2012.

Melba was raised in Bates County in the Foster area. She attended Miami High School in Bates County and graduated with the Class of 1952. Following high school she was employed by Sears in Kansas City, Mo., King Radio in Lenexa, Kan., for a time, and then also worked as a dental assistant in Olathe, Kan., for nine years. Melba was a member of the Osawatomie Christian Church. She was an active volunteer as a youth mentor with Al-Anon in Osawatomie, Kan. Melba enjoyed growing flowers, hand crafts and was a member of a crafting club in Osawatomie. She also enjoyed traveling, boating, fising, and seeing the country with her husband Hal in their RV, and caring for her cat Dolly.

Survivors include four children, Michael Kinney and his wife Pam, North Kansas City, Mo., Terry Weis and her husband Mike, Salina, Kan., Charie Clark, Richards, Mary Clark and her husband John, Lamar; 15 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Ray Hines, Kansas City, Mo.; one sister, Nancy Hudson and her husband Charles, Lane, Kan.; numerous nieces and nephews. She was also preceded in death by her parents; one son, Patrick Kinney; one daughter, Diana Robertson-Brewster; two brothers, Richard Hines, and Claude Hines, Jr.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 5, at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Jason Shackleford officiating. Graveside services will following at 3:30 p.m in the Paola City Cemetery, Paola, Kan. Friends may call now and until the hour of service at Ferry Funeral Home.

Those who wish may contribute in her memory to the National Arthritis Foundation in care of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

You may view obituary and send condolences on line at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.