Melba Adkins' Obituary
Melba E. Adkins, a resident of Lake Ozark, MO, passed away peacefully at the Putnam County Care Center, Unionville, MO on March 24, 2025 at the age of 79.
Born on July 20,1945 in Centerville, IA, Melba was the child of Leslie C. and Fern Opal (Casady) Pickering. She attended a one room Wells Grade School in Chariton, MO and attended Unionville High School, the Class of 1963. She was united in marriage to Ronald Dean Newman on March 31, 1963 and together they had two children: Bryan Wayne and Brent Dean. She was also later married to Robert Adkins.
Melba and her husband Ronnie co-owned and operated a milk hauling business with Ronnie's parents George and Gene Newman for several years. Melba was a homemaker, and also worked part time as a cook in the kitchen at the Putnam County High School. She was an excellent seamstress who sewed for most of the town of Livonia making wedding dresses and doing alterations. She sewed matching aprons for her husband and son to wear on their milk route, sheep covers for granddaughter's sheep and she was also known for her great skill in changing out zippers! Melba spent the bulk of her professional working years as the Postmaster at the USPS, Livonia, MO from 1982-2006 and was always known as the Mary Kay lady. She always had rolls and books of stamps on hand wherever she went in case folks needed to buy some. Upon retiring to the Lake of the Ozarks in 2006, Melba worked part time at Art at the Lake and https://Horsewarehouse.com.
In her free time, Melba was a very capable and popular baker; people sought out her biscuits at the Livonia BlueGrass Festival and Fox Hunt and she won first prizes at the Holiday Baking contest at Lake of the Ozarks with her Apple Bread and her Mother's Cookie Recipe and second prize with her cinnamon rolls, her mother-in-law, Gene's recipe. She even donated her baking talents to charity events. In her retirement Melba was a devoted and recognized volunteer at Lake Regional Hospital Gift Shop, Osage Beach, MO. Melba had a deep love and devotion to her grandchildren and great grandchildren and would jump at the chance to see them and attend their many activities over the years from softball, basketball, track, graduations to showing livestock at the Putnam County Fair. They were the joy of her life!
She is survived by her son, Bryan Wayne Newman and his wife, Elise of Niangua, MO, a brother Marvin Pickering of New Lennox, IL, niece Janet Pickering, nephew David (Andrea) Pickering, sister-in-law Gwynn Newman, nephews Adam and Ryan Newman, sister-in-law Brenda Newman, niece Alyssa Dickinsan and nephew Steve Newman, sister-in-law Ann Newman, nephew Roger Newman, brother-in-law Buddy Thomas, nephew Bradley Thomas, and grandchildren Elizabeth (Nick) Reid, Madeline (Logan) Shahan and Heather Newman, great grandchildren Tucker, Kya, and Tate Shahan, Evirley and step great grandchild, Sophie Reid. She had many other beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws.
She was preceded in death by her first husband Ronald Newman, her son Brent, her second husband Robert Adkins, sisters-in-law, Martha Pickering and Connie Thomas, brothers-in-law, Garrett Newman, Milton Newman and Neal Newman.
Funeral services for Melba will be held at 3:00PM on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at Thomas Funeral Home in Unionville. Burial will take place at Rose Cemetery. A Visitation will take place one hour prior at the funeral home. Memorials in memory of Melba have been established to either Putnam County Fair or Rose Cemetery. Condolences may be shared online at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome.
What’s your fondest memory of Melba?
What’s a lesson you learned from Melba?
Share a story where Melba's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Melba you’ll never forget.
How did Melba make you smile?