Danny A. Melton, a longtime Payne county resident, passed away on Wednesday, February 4, 2009 in Miami Beach, FL at the age of 58 years.
Funeral services have been entrusted to the Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Cushing and will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 11, 2009 in the First United Methodist Church in Cushing with Reverend Ted Uhlig and Reverend Larry Eslinger officiating.
The son of the late Nathan W. Melton and Maggie M. (Williamson) Melton, Danny was born on July 2, 1950 in Stillwater, OK. As a young boy, Danny’s family moved to California where at the age of 10 years old he designed the seal for the Commerce Chamber of Commerce. His family later moved to Ripley where he graduated from Ripley High School.
On October 13, 1967, Danny entered the United States Army at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. While serving in Vietnam he was awarded two Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with a Palm. He received his honorable discharge on April 11, 1977 in Ft. Jackson, SC as a Staff Sergeant. Following his time in the military, Danny worked for the Ripley Police Department, the Payne County Sheriff’s Department, and did roust about in the oil and gas industry. In November of 1991, Danny began working for the Department of Interior where he was a Federal Oil and Gas Inspector for the Bureau of Land Management, retiring in September of 2006.
In his spare time, Danny enjoyed fishing, boating, water and snow skiing, golfing and riding motorcycles. Danny was also a licensed horse trainer and enjoyed horseback riding.
Survivors include his wife Karen of the home; one brother, Nathan Melton and his wife Sharon of Stillwater; two sisters, Nina F. Miller of Salem, Oregon and Judy McCray and her husband Kenneth of Skedee, OK; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Condolences and an online guestbook are available at www.palmermarlerfh.com.
A video tribute honoring Danny’s life is available for viewing at www.palmermarlerfh.com.
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