Melvin Leon Tebo

Melvin Leon Tebo, 78, died peacefully Monday, March 4, 2013, at his home. He was born July 22, 1934, in Optima, Okla., to Melvin and Lillian Tebo. He was the oldest of eight children. He lived most of his life in Texas, but has been a resident of Lakeside for the past 15 years. He dedicated his life as one of Jehovahs Witnesses in 1969 and served as a loving elder for 40 years and at his death was still serving faithfully in the Show Low English congregation. He had the joy of being out in the door-to-door ministry with his family just two days prior to his death. He loved his God Jehovah and was confident in the promise from the Bible in Revelation 21:3-4, Isaiah 25:8, and John 15:28, that if his life in this system of things ever ended, he would be resting, asleep in death, in Jehovahs memory, and that soon he will be resurrected into a perfect new world, ready to be reunited with his loved ones here on earth. Leon was an avid trout fisherman, his life was full of many memories of happy trips with his family. He had many hobbies, including tying fishing flies for his family, and was especially proud of his family. He adored his loving wife, Helen, and repeatedly spoke of not being able to carry on without her, spoke of his son Bryan as the love of his life, and his daughter Tonja as his life, his heart, his everything. He loved his family very much, but his greatest joy was serving his God Jehovah and shared in helping many others do the same. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Helen of Lakeside; son Bryan (Jana) of Waxahachie, Texas; daughter Tonja (Jim) Sutherland of Show Low; six grandchildren: Brandon (Maurissa) Tebo, Melissa Tebo, Stephanie (Ritchie) Fisher, Melanie (Cody) Pace, Chancea Sutherland and Chesnea Sutherland, and two great-grandchildren: Mason and Micah Tebo. He is also survived by two brothers: Virgil and Joe Tebo; four sisters: Peggy, Melva, Kay and Paula; brother-in-laws Don (Carolyn) Medart, Jack (Twana) Medart and sister-in-law Betty Isham and many nieces and nephews, as well as many, many grandchildren that he took under his wings, and spiritual brothers and sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, John Tebo. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovahs Witnesses at 201 E. Whipple in Show Low.