Hilda Melanson Newton, 81, of Hamshire, passed away Thursday, November 28, 2013, in Marion, North Carolina. She was born on December 11, 1931, to Estelle Melanson and Joseph Melanson, in Rayne, Louisiana. Hilda had lived in the Golden Triangle area before moving to North Carolina, in the late eighties. 

She was a longstanding member of the American Business Women’s Association and the Insurance Women’s Association. She worked as an insurance agent both in Beaumont and North Carolina.

Survivors include her daughters, Diane Hidalgo and her husband, David, of Fannett and JoAnn Parsons and her husband, Joey, of Marion, North Carolina; son, Anthony Perkins and his wife, Norma, of Vidor; sisters, Ella Landry of Houston and Evelyn Casey of Vidor; grandchildren, David Lee of Fannett; D’Lisa of College Station; Daniel and Michelle of Hamshire; Chad and Jennifer, Chris, Jennifer, Cory and Beverly, all of Vidor; Bambi and Scott, and Brandi of Marion, North Carolina; great-grandchildren, Ava and Max of Hamshire; Brianna, Caleb, Lauren, Taylor, Brian, Toby, Willis, Baillie, Paige, Shaun, and Raelynn, all of Vidor; and Gabrielle and Jonathan of Marion, North Carolina.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Estelle and Joseph Melanson; six brothers, Wilbert “T”,  Martin, Louis, Ray, Johnny, Isaac; three sisters, Alpha Broussard, Clara Leleux, Bertha Bergeron; and son, Johnny Ray Perkins of Vidor.

Hilda was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, and will be truly missed.  Hilda’s family would like to invite her family and friends to a celebration of her life on her birthday Wednesday, December 11, 2013, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Southeast Texas Food Bank, 3845 South Martin Luther King, Jr. Parkway, Beaumont, Texas 77705, or Humane Society of Southeast Texas, P.O. Box 1629, Beaumont, Texas 77704.