Melva Denison Marshall

Melva Iva Ogden Denison Marshall, 87, passed away on Sunday, April 24, 2022, at Vitality Care Center in Lubbock, Texas. Melva was born on February 9, 1935 near Portales, New Mexico. In late 1937 the family moved to Fort Sumner, New Mexico, where Melva attended school and graduated from high school in 1953. She attended Eastern New Mexico University, worked as cashier at different banks and as a school clerical assistant for a time. In 1956 Melva married Shell Davenport Denison, Jr. Together they had two children, Barry Reed and Sharon Ann. For the next few years, the family moved several times, living in Albuquerque, Clovis, El Paso, Dallas, and Houston. They returned to Fort Sumner in 1972. Here, they were members of the First United Methodist Church when during this time, Shell gave his life completely to the Lord, and with Melva’s complete blessing, became a Methodist minister. Shell’s first appointment was the San Jon and Grady Methodist churches. From there they moved to Amarillo, Texas and the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church. Later, Shell pastored Methodist churches in Slaton, Lubbock, La Mesa, Big Spring, and Seminole, Texas, where she was ever-present by his side until his passing in 1997. Melva returned to Fort Sumner and made her home. In 2011 she married life-long friend, Hubert Marshall. They lived in Fort Sumner, participated in many senior activities, ocean cruises, and enjoyed automobile and travel trailer trips until Hubert’s passing in 2021. Melva was predeceased by her husband, Shell Denison and second husband, Hubert Marshall; her parents, Chester and Medah Hutchisson Ogden, a brother, Doyle D. Ogden, a brother-in-law Jim McGraw, and sister-in-law Sammye Ogden. She is survived by her son, Barry Denison and his wife, Debbie; their three children, Bethany Denison of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, David Denison of Denver, Colorado, and Kelly Sanchez and her husband, Travis, and sons, Joel and Levi of Jerusalem, Israel; by daughter Sharon Lopez and her husband, Bobby, temporarily of Paducah, Kentucky, their three children, Chiree Fields, husband Dink, and twin sons Walker and Jensen of Idalou, Texas; Candice Rachels, husband Jason and daughter Hadlee of Shallowater, Texas, and son Chance Lopez and his wife Vanessa of Carrollton, Texas. Melva is also survived by siblings, Christine Martin and husband Moreland of Houston, Frances McGraw of Fort Worth, Royce Ogden of Burleson, and Cynthia Van Auken and husband John of Houston, Texas; a brother-in-law Stephen Denison and his wife Carla of Pasco, Washington, step-children Tommy Marshall and his wife Tricia, and Marcie Vick and husband Johnny, sixteen nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews along with a host of other family and many friends. Visitation hours will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 from 1pm to 6pm at the Chavez Funeral Home Chapel in Fort Sumner, NM. The family will receive friends at Melva’s home, 445 E. Lake Avenue in Fort Sumner. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday, April 28, 2022 at First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner, NM with Pastor Barry Denison officiating. Interment will be held at Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be David Denison, Chance Lopez, Jason Rachels, Dink Fields, Randel Mansell, and Jeff Ogden. The family requests memorial contributions in memory of Melva to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 410, Fort Sumner, NM 88119 or Trinity Outreach to support Kelly and Travis with sons Joel and Levi as they serve in Jerusalem, Israel www.trinityoutreach.org Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311. To place an online tribute, share a memory, or sign the guest book go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com