Elmo Melancon, 97, of Hamshire, passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Harbor Hospice of Beaumont. He was born March 11, 1920, in Boscoe, Louisiana, an area near Rayne, Louisiana, to Elena Melancon and Jack Melancon. He was the third oldest of twelve boys and one girl.
He had been a longtime resident of the Hamshire area, moving here in January of 1948. He secured a job from Texas Gas Corporation refinery, in Winshire. There he worked as a 1st class mechanic, for several years, until the plant closed. Afterwards, he worked for the Jefferson County Drainage District, as a dragline operator, until his retirement. He was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, in Fannett.
The “job” he loved most, was growing things on his small farm. His passion was planting and growing watermelons. He delighted in raising different varieties, some even reaching thirty to forty pounds in size. He would beam with pride when he’d hear “those are the best watermelons around”. The three gardens he planted every year were filled with a variety of vegetables, an assortment of citrus and blueberry bushes. Raising cattle, and selling hay, was something he also enjoyed, as well as being a beekeeper, with the sweetest honey harvested.
Elmo was a family oriented person, who loved visiting with friends and family. It wasn’t unusual to see him riding around town, with his truck loaded down with watermelons, oranges, assorted vegetables, honey, hay, or whatever was plentiful in the garden, to give away. There was always that willingness to share his knowledge of planting and growing skills with others.
Folks will miss his goodbye of “good luck to you”, as you left with bags full of his harvest. He was a special husband, father, grandfather and friend, who never met a stranger. He will be missed by many.
He is survived by his wife of seventy-seven years, Murmay Landry Melancon, of Hamshire; daughters, Eva Hlavinka Schroeder and her husband, Charlie, of Wharton; Beverly Chesson and her husband, John, of Hamshire; and Nellie Beebe and her husband, Gene, of Hamshire; son, Ronnie Melancon and his wife, Vicki, of Winnie; grandchildren, LaCricia, Carl and Clay Hlavinka; Chad, Jason & Shana Chesson; Gene and Jarret Beebe; Judd Melancon and Kara Melancon Mabe; eightteen great-grandchildren; several sister-in-laws; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by parents; eleven brothers; and one sister.
A gathering of Mr. Melancon’s family and friends will begin at 12:30 p.m., with his funeral service to follow at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, March 23, 2017, at Broussard’s, 134 West Buccaneer Drive, Winnie. Interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery, Winnie.
Pallbearers will be grandsons, Carl Hlavinka, Clay Hlavinka, Chad Chesson, Jason Chesson, Gene Beebe, Jarret Beebe and Judd Melancon. Honorary pallbearer will be Larry Robertson.
Memorial donations may be made in Mr. Melancon’s name to Hamshire Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance Fund, PO Box 153, Hamshire, Texas 77622 or St. Jude’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 78105.
