Melba Joy Burr

Melba Joy Burr, 90, of Amarillo died September 4, 2021.

Visitation will be from 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at Schooler Funeral Home, 4100 S. Georgia. Memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, September 8, 2021 at Southwest Church of Christ, 4515 Cornell St. Interment will be private in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schooler Funeral Home.

Born August 26, 1931 in Gordon, TX to Claud and Opal Jernigan. She lived in Seagraves during high school where she was a drum major and twirler. She lived in Abernathy her senior year where she started a pep squad and was a cheerleader. She moved to Rocky Ford and worked at a department store. She met Billy and they married 6 months later in Raton, NM on June 29, 1950. They lived in La Junta, Rocky Ford, Durango, El Paso, Wichita Falls, and Amarillo.

Melba began selling Tupperware in El Paso and was one of their top national salesman. She was offered an opportunity to be a distributor for 24 counties in Texas and Oklahoma. Billy and Melba accepted and moved to Wichita Falls in 1962. They stayed in the business until 1970.

They had four children, Karen, Gail and Jimmy born in La Junta, CO and Janet born in El Paso, TX. They moved to Amarillo in 1977 and was a Weight Watcher instructor for twenty-five years. She loved to share nutritional information. Her classes quickly became popular and were well attended.

In every place they lived church was a priority. She taught many women’s classes. Her favorite daily activity her last nine years was writing in her blessings journal. She had over 12000 entries. She loved playing bridge with family and friends, tending flowers in her yard, creating fun activities for the grandchildren and listening to them sing.

She is survived by her husband Billy; and daughters Karen Rogers and husband Kelley and Janet Nix and husband Clinton; son-in-law, Robert Walter and wife Shirley; grandchildren, Korey Rogers, Courtney Jenkins, Brad Walter, Keith Rogers, Jane Marlar, Kayci Ross, Katy Taylor, Joe Walter, Emily Simpson, Charles Nix and James Nix; twenty-four great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild; sisters Dorthy Houchin and husband Jerry and Claudine Nimmo and husband Darrel; and a multitude of nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her son Jimmy Burr; daughter Gail Walter; brother Jake Jernigan; and parents Claud and Opal Jernigan.

The family suggests memorials be made to High Plains Children’s Home, PO Box 7448, Amarillo, Texas 79114.