AVA – Melba J. Reynolds, 84, of Ava, passed away at 3:36 pm, Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Carbondale Rehab in Carbondale, Illinois.

Melba was born in Kinkaid Township, Illinois on May 14, 1931, the daughter of Homer L. and Edna Smith Bower. Melba was a retired EMT. She was a member of the Crain Baptist Church, Ava; former Justice of the Peace in Kinkaid Township; formerly served on Jackson County Ambulance Service; former Alderman on the Ava City Council; and she was a caregiver.

Melba is survived by nieces, Jacqueline Bower Thrasher of Ft. Walton Beach, FL and Sheila Richardson of Hudson, NH; nephews, William Bower of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Allen Bower of O'Brien, FL, and Norman Bower of Branford, FL; sister-in-law, Delores Bower of Branford, FL; cousins, Emma Louis Taylor, Carolyn Rogers, Vivian Franklin, John, Glen, Steve & Grover Bower; puppies, Little Bit and Precious; her caregivers, Tom Wilhite Family.

Melba was preceded in death by her Parents; husbands, John Taylor and Richard Reynolds; and brothers, Lester L. "Jack" Bower, Kenneth Allen Bower and Homer Lee Bower.

Graveside service will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at Ava Evergreen Cemetery with Rev. Bill Stoklosa officiating. Visitation will be at Wilson's Funeral Home, Ava, where friends may call from 9 am until 10 am Wednesday. Memorials may be given to St. Jude's Children Hospital.