Melba Ruth Hain was born on a snowy February 7th 1932, in a farmhouse on her grandparent's George and Lena Higel's farm in Strang Nebraska near Bruning, to Agnes and Ralph Pickering.   Her father Ralph reports that he rode a white horse named Charlie through the snow drifts to call Doc Saylor, who then took a horse drawn sleigh to help Agnes deliver Melba.  Melba and her family soon moved to Fairbury NE where her brothers Roger and Larry were born 8 and 11 years later respectively.  Melba was a caring and loving big sister; a bond that continued until her death.  Melba remembers a wonderful childhood with many family gatherings with her grandparents on Sunday's after church.  Melba's good natured spirits meant plenty of smiles which showed off her beautiful dimples.  Her high school nickname "Pick", short for both Pickering and toothpick, described her graceful and slender body.  A classic beauty, Melba's raven hair set off her high cheekbones.  She played the E flat alto saxophone in the Beatrice High School marching band and was a cheerleader at Fairbury College.  Later she worked as a bookkeeper for the 43 senators in the Nebraska state legislature's office in Lincoln's grand state capital building.  It was while working for the CB&Q Railroad as a crew caller that Melba met the love of her life, Darrell E Hain.  They were married soon after on 1/5/1958 in the Christian Church in Lincoln.  They had three children, Mary, David, and Marjorie.  Promotions for Darrell on the railroad meant transfers to new states in the Midwest and West.  Melba organized vacations, and the family enjoyed the attractions of every state:  Wisconsin lake picnics and boating on the Mississippi River, Eaton's Ranch and Horseback pack trips in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming, vacation ski trips to Colorado, and Disneyland California.  Constants in her life were her membership in the Episcopal Church, and the Newcomers Club of which she was president.  In Council Bluffs, IA., Melba started her own Real Estate Company called Heritage Real Estate and while living in Ottumwa, IA she earned her Master's degree in sociology from the University of Iowa.  After Darrell's retirement, the adventurous couple lived and skied in Vail Colorado, then moved to San Diego California near daughter Mary and lived there for 15 years. It was in San Diego that she was initiated into the PEO sisterhood that would become so dear to her.  Melba and Darrell enjoyed traveling the world and visited Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Amsterdam, Munich, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, England, Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, Berlin, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Istanbul, Turkey, Palestine, Egypt, Denmark, Stockholm, Helsinki, St Petersburg, Estonia, Japan, Monaco, and Macau. Melba's last 6 years were spent in Frisco Texas near her daughter Marjorie and Son David.  Frisco's Arts/Theatre/Music Association flourished under Melba's direction. Melba and Darrell celebrated 50 years of marriage by taking their 3 children and their families on a Caribbean Cruise Jan 5, 2008.  After suffering from lung cancer for 1½ yrs., Melba died peacefully at 11:21 pm on Sept 5th 2009, with her family present.  Funeral Services were held Sept. 12th  at 1:00 pm at St Phillips Episcopal Church with internment at Ridgeview West Memorial Park in Frisco, Texas.  Daughter Mary Gauert and granddaughter Sierra Gauert sang "Fairest Lord Jesus" accompanied by the flute played by granddaughter Brittany Hain.   The hymns "Abide With Me" and "What a Friend We Have In Jesus" were also sung at her grandparent's George and Lena Higel's funerals.   Pallbearers were brothers Roger and Larry Pickering, son in laws Roger Heath, and Edward Gauert and grandsons Kyle and Cody Heath.   She is survived by her husband Darrell, 3 children Mary Gauert of San Diego, CA, David Hain of McKinney, and Marjorie Heath of Frisco, 5 grandchildren Sierra Gauert, Austin and Brittany Hain, and Kyle and Cody Heath, and 2 brothers, Roger Pickering of Lincoln, NE and Larry Pickering of Yuma, AZ.  Melba always giving, caring, and joyful, devoted her life to her husband, children, grandchildren, family, and friends.