Melba Jean (Burt) Ghramm |
| Posted 2009-05-11 by White Mountain Independent |
| GHRAMM, Melba Jean 'Burt' Melba Jean "Burt" Ghramm, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, died May 2, 2009, at Hospice Compassus inpatient unit. Melba was born Oct. 10, 1930, in Coyville, Kansas. She is a survivor of the "Great Depression." Like many of that era, her family did the best they could. She was raised on a farm in Fall River, Kan. They raised their own garden, had milking cows and chickens (Melba collected the eggs daily), all of which was needed to provide for the family. This is why the property they purchased in Show Low in 1975 became so special to her retirement. Her hobbies were planting flowers, pruning the trees, assisting her husband with making feeders for the seasonal birds and relaxing on her swing during sunsets. During the spring and early falls, it was stunning for mom to watch the visiting elk arrive on the property. Melba lost her husband Feb. 17, 2009; they would have celebrated 60 years of marriage April 28. They raised three children, Vickie, Rita and Ralph. In high school, Melba was an avid basketball player on the Fall River High School basketball team. She was known as being a terrific "shooter." After graduating high school, she went on to receive her teaching degree from Pittsburg College in Pittsburg, Kan. Melba taught one year at Fall River Country School prior to her marriage. For many years Melba was a Sunday school teacher at the Fall River Christian Church. In February 1961, Melba and Clyde moved to Phoenix. In 1963 Melba went to work in the banking industry for Valley National Bank. In late 1977, they moved to Show Low where Melba transferred with the bank as operations manager. Melba was part of opening the Pinetop Branch as assistant branch manager before retiring after 25 years of service. Melba is survived by her three children, daughters Vickie Fishel (Curt) of Phoenix and Rita Ghramm of Colorado and son Ralph Ghramm (Kimberly) of Show Low; brother Melvin Burt (Joan) of Wichita, Kan.; six grandchildren, Correna (Robert) Kessler of Fruitland, Idaho, Chad (Lisa) Alexander of Surprise, K.C. Ghramm of Queen Creek, Timothy and Wayne Rogers of Austin, Texas, and Clinton Fishel of Phoenix; eight great-grandchildren, Tasha, Amber, Eldon, Catie and Lorinda Kessler of Fruitland, Idaho, Hailee Ghramm of Queen Creek and Madelin and Logan Alexander of Surprise. Melba was preceded in heaven by Christopher Clyde Ghramm, her loving husband of 60 years; her parents, Ralph and Wauneta Burt; and her loving grandson Aron Ghramm, whom the two of them were very close. "We all know Aron, her husband and parents are all welcoming Melba to heaven with open arms. Love you mom, grandma, great-grandma and sister. We will all miss you." Published in The White Mountain Independent 05/08/2009. See Also: Find A Grave |
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