Zella "Merle" (Hamrick) Nobles
Marriages
Bill Milham
Cliff Procter
Floyd Nobles
Burial Details
Obituaries
Delta County Independent - August 31, 2016
Delta, Colo., resident, Merle Nobles, passed away at her residence at Crossroad Assisted Living Center in Delta on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016. She was 84 years of age.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Taylor Funeral Service Chapel in Delta. Interment will follow at Cedaredge Cemetery in Cedaredge.
Merle was born at home in Elmwood, Okla., to Arthur and Leota Hamrick. She learned the meaning of hard work at a very young age due to the passing of her father. Wanting to help her mom support the family, she picked cotton in the fields at the tender age of three. Her dedication to working hard was something she would continue through the rest of her life. Later the family moved to Arizona where Leota went to work as a cook for the local brand inspector. It was there that Leota met Merle's future stepdad, Bill Amos. He was as she would say "one of a kind." They had a special bond. The family moved to the small copper mining town of Bagdad where Bill went to work at the mine. Merle attended school there and graduated as Valedictorian of her class. One of her favorite jobs was when she worked for Goodyear helping to build the "blimps."
Merle married Bill Milham in 1950 and they had two children. In 1960, they moved to Cedaredge. She worked in Grand Junction at a facility that took care of handicapped children. Later, she worked as a waitress and cook.
They enjoyed going to rodeos which Bill would sometimes rope in. In 1970, they moved to Huntington, Utah. While there, she worked as a waitress, insurance secretary and settled in as plant manager at a bulk gas and oil company. After Bill's passing in 1984, she went to work for the county road shop as dispatcher.
In 1985, she met and married Cliff Proctor. They enjoyed dancing, traveling and going to the Rebekah/Oddfellow functions. In 1988, they moved back to Colorado to help care for Merle's mother. Merle went to work at the Delta County Memorial Hospital in medical records. She also volunteered in the gift shop, medical records and later in education. She volunteered for many years until her health would no longer allow her to do so. She was presented with awards for her dedication including "employee of the month." She also served as President of the volunteers for two years. In 1989, Merle joined the Rebekahs and quickly began her long journey with the organization. She helped in every way that she could to further their goals. She went "through the chairs" and held almost every office. She served as President for the 2004-2005 year. She helped each year at the cookie stop to give weary drivers a break and prevent accidents.
Merle loved to crochet, quilt and embroider and enjoyed giving her handmade projects away to family and friends. She also donated her beautiful work to the Rebekahs and DCMH to help raise funds for their projects.
Cliff passed in 2008 and the following year, she married Floyd Nobles who she met at the senior dance. Needless to say, they enjoyed going to dances. Due to failing health, they moved to Crossroads Assisted Living in 2011.
Merle loved her family deeply and was always there to support and help anyone who needed it. She made sure that all the family members had a quilt and crocheted bedspread along with assorted other handmade items.
Merle is survived by her husband; a son, Willard (Sharlynne) Milham of Ammon, Idaho; a daughter, Mary (Paul) Steed of McClure Pass, Colo.; three grandchildren, Joe Milham of Phoenix, Ariz., Craig (Laura) Milham of Greenville, S.C., and Laura Bushnell of Ammon, Idaho; nine great-grandchildren; and a brother, Melvin (Peggy) Hamrick of Phoenix, Ariz.
Merle was preceded in death by parents; stepdad; two husbands; three half-brothers, Harry, Hobart and Floyd; three half-sisters, Evelyn, Florence and June; a niece, Liz Hill; and a son-in-law, Gary.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Crossroads for great care that they provided the past five years. To say they went out of their way to be helpful and caring is an understatement. They were more than just nurses and staff, they were Merle's friends.
The family suggests memorial contributions to be made in Merle's memory to HopeWest, PO Box 24, Delta, CO 81416.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www.taylorfuneralservice.com.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5 B Death Notice - September 1, 2016
Zella “Merle” Milham-Proctor-Nobles, 84, Delta, died Aug. 25, 2016, at Crossroads Assisted Living Center. Services will take place at 10 a.m. Friday at Taylor Funeral Ser-vice Chapel in Delta. Interment will follow at Cedaredge Cemetery. Survivors include one son, Willard Milham of Ammon, Idaho; one daughter, Mary Steed of McClure Pass; one brother, Melvin Hamrick of Phoenix; three grandchildren; and nine great-grand-children.Memorial contributions to HopeWest, P.O. Box 24, Delta 81416.
