Melva Chancellor-Burnham

Melva Gene Jane Chancellor-Burnham passed away peacefully at home surrounded by members of her family on Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at the age of 91 in Fredericksburg, Texas. \r\n\r\nMelva was born on May 31, 1929 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Eugene Karl and Edna Mae Chancellor (Thomas). She graduated from the historic Will Rogers Senior High School in Tulsa. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology in 1971 and her Masters in Social Work in 1978 from The University of Houston Central Campus. As a Clinical Social Worker she worked for Child Protective Services, as a family therapist, a drug and alcohol abuse counselor, and as a mental health therapist for the Texas State Prison System. She had a lifelong dedication to helping others with their life challenges. \r\n\r\nShe was united in marriage with Robert Burr Burnham on September 23, 1950 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.\r\n\r\nMelva was preceded in death by her parents: Eugene Karl and Edna Mae Chancellor (Thomas), her brother Walter Cal Chancellor, and her grandparents: Irvin and Emma Roark Chancellor (Wright), and Frederick George and Serepsie Jane Thomas (Cossey).\r\n\r\nShe is survived by her former spouse, her four children: Douglas Jon Burnham (Donna Stehling), Clayton James Burnham (Marsha Ross), Megan Jane Burnham, and Nealton Jay Burnham, her sister Linda Lu Chancellor-Malroney-List, her granddaughter Lyssa Raye Burnham- Howeth (John Wesley Howeth), and her great granddaughter Caroline Raye Howeth.\r\n\r\nShe was baptized and confirmed on June 30, 2019 in Zion Lutheran Church in Fredericksburg by The Reverend Ron Windecker. She became a member of Zion on the same day. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. \r\n\r\nShe was very proud of her family heritage. She was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. She greatly valued the friendships that she formed in those organizations. \r\n\r\nShe was a Master Gardener and a member of both the Houston and Hill Country chapters. She also was a member of the Herb Society of America-South Texas Unit. She had a passion for growing herbs and Texas native plants. The beauty of her native plant garden as well as all the wildlife that it attracted gave her great joy and comfort. She enjoyed watching the humming birds, butterflies, and especially the family of cardinals that nested in her courtyard each year.\r\n\r\nThe family would like to thank the compassionate care that she received over the years from Dr. Pamela Cantu, Brandy Thuringer CST, Dr. Claudia Hura of UT Health Science Center San Antonio, Dr. Ron Falk of UNC Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Charlene Werner, Kerrville, and J.J. Morales MFR, Wimberley.\r\n\r\nA private family memorial service was held on June 9, at Zion Lutheran Church officiated by The Reverend Ron Windecker and The Reverend Lisa Hoelscher. A public memorial service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church at a date to be announced. Her remains will be interred in the family plot at Floral Haven Cemetery in Tulsa, Oklahoma.\r\n\r\nMelva will be remembered for her love for and dedication to God, her family and friends, and country. \r\n\r\nWe will greatly miss our beloved, adorable mother. We are so grateful to God for blessing us with her.\r\n\r\nMemorials may be given to Zion Lutheran Church www.zion-lutheran.com or the Vasculitis Foundation at www.vasculitisfoundation.org\r\n\r\nThe family invites you to send condolences to www.grimesfuneralchapels.com by selecting the "Send Condolences" link.