My Happiest Summer

Written by John McElligott

I met Melinda at the A&W Root Beer out by the Fiesta Drive Inn Theater in the Summer of 1961. I was 15 years old and Melinda was 3yrs older than me. Melinda had just finished her freshman year at Texas Tech, and I was working as a life guard & manager at Half Park. I saw her driving around a wheelchair bound senior from MHS, who I saw every day at school but did not know her name. I said, “Hello”. I knew Melinda from Austin Junior High when I was in the 7th grade and Melinda was a Cheerleader in the 9th, and I was a big fan!

I never met Melinda face to face or talked to her before that night. I was out with Mike Murphy and other lifeguards from the pools in Midland. We were eating our burgers and drinking something, but not root beer. I spent the rest of the evening talking to Melinda and her companion. I was smitten with her at once, and spent the rest of the summer every day and evening as much as I could possibly arrange.

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Melinda Mayhew Martin (RIP)

Melinda Mayhew Martin, age 78 passed away peacefully on November, 30th 2020 in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was Born in San Angelo, Texas and grew up in Midland, Texas.

Melinda was a long-time resident of Shreveport and retired as an employee of the City. She loved spending time at home doing things around the house especially watching movies, listening to music, and quilting. She enjoyed the company of family and friends, had a wonderful sense of humor and her love for animals was endless. She was a member of Broadmoor Presbyterian Church in Shreveport.

Preceding her in death were her parents Irene Kreis Holland and Bill Holland, and Aaron “Lee” Mayhew.
Melinda is survived by her brother Arthur Mayhew and Wife Carol of Levittown, Pennsylvania and their family, son Kent Martin and his wife Katherine of Shreveport.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff at Garden Park Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and to Lifepath Hospice care.

In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to the ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/ways-to-give
Visitation will be held from 10-11 am on Thursday, December 10th at Osborn Funeral Home in Shreveport, Louisiana.