Melba J. Harken was an influential, generous, and visionary woman who adored her family, community, and friends. Her strong faith in God was the foundation that carried her through this life. On January 7th, 2024, the world lost a larger than life exceptional human being. Melba expressed grace and warmth to every person she met. She was clear-eyed about death, torn between leaving her children and their offspring and joining the love of her life, Tom.
Melba, eighth in line to a family of 10 children, was born of modest means on a farm in Mountain Park, Oklahoma on June 24th, 1939, to Floyd and Delta Curtis, nee Hill. She attended Consolidated 8 High School, and graduated in May of 1957 as valedictorian of her class. Prior to graduation, she passed the Civil Service exam. She traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where her sister Dorothy helped Melba get a clerical job there. Having acquired a Top Secret clearance, she was assigned to a unit conducting experimental research on regular bombs for the U.S. Air Force. Later, she transferred back to Oklahoma to work at Altus Air Force Base, then Fort Sill. Here, as a typist in the Anti-Ballistic Nike Missile Program, Melba typed draft manuscripts for Training Manuals written by onsite authors. While there, she married Thomas L. "Tom" Harken and while her career with the government ended, a much more exciting "career" with Tom began.
Tom wooed Melba upon their first date with a promise to pick her up in a green Cadillac. Reluctantly, she met him at a quaint diner named “The Pink Elephant,” where they shared a cheeseburger and a milkshake. Not long after, Tom asked her to “ride the wave”, not knowing just how vast that wave might be- Melba agreed and they married shortly after.
Over the moon, the two welcomed their sons Thomas Lee and Mark Hamilton. Tom was offered a full distributorship, and the family, a dog named Skeeter, and a cat named Jinxie, relocated to Beaumont, Texas which would be their home for more than six decades. Melba and Tom loved the business world. She remained by his side all the way, serving as Secretary and Treasurer for Casa Olé Beaumont Inc. and Crazy Jose Restaurant Group Inc. She provided accounting and mechanical expertise, always completely involved in each business her husband created.
While the businesses took off, not only did Melba serve as a great partner to her husband but the role she played as a mother and grandmother would be the most rewarding role she ever held. She wore the title of Matriarch with pride.
If you were to ask her what her most cherished memories were, it would be spending her summers at Lake Sam Rayburn, riding jet skis and having picnic lunches on the pontoon with her sons and grandchildren Trace, McKenzie, Terran and Marleigh.
She had a soft spot for her grandchildren. As a shy person, Melba took pride in the personality of her first born grandchild, Trace who undoubtedly possessed the opposite. He brought her the most joy when he shined as lead in the church choir and as he rose through the ranks of Chick fil A. McKenzie, her first grand-daughter favored Melba in being headstrong in what she wanted in life. Melba was in awe of the person and mother she had become to Hollis and Archie.Terran, a free spirit, showed Melba a new outlook on life and inquired Melba’s guidance often in being an established realtor. Melba’s heart grew when Terran welcomed her second great-grandson, Aiden. And the baby, Marleigh- who credited their Nina for greatly influencing her life for the better when she moved in with her and her father Mark during her junior year of highschool, and she cheered from the sidelines as Marleigh achieved her goals as she graduated from college and entered a career in Wealth Management. “Nina” wanted nothing more than to see all her grandchildren succeed.
Melba is preceded in death by her parents, and her siblings Charlotte, Dorothy, Bobbye, Byrd, Udell and Ray Curtis and beloved grandson, Thomas Lee "Trace" Harken III.
She is survived by her siblings Evie Evans, Jerry Curtis, and Charles Curtis, Jr. Her son Thomas Lee "Tommy" Harken, II and wife Debra, and son Mark Hamilton Harken, grandchildren: McKenzie Harken-Hidalgo and her husband Chase, Terran Harken-Jain, and her husband Akash, Marleigh Harken and bonus grandson Jonathan Miller, great grandsons Hollis and Archie Hidalgo and Aiden Jain, along with countless and beloved extended family and friends.
Melba was a beautiful, loving, brave, and loyal friend who will be missed by all who knew her. In memory of Melba, please consider donating to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Melba would also ask that you will do an unsolicited act of kindness to brighten someone's day. A private family graveside service will be held in her honor.
Go ‘Stros.