Roger William Melton: The Life, The Laughs, The Legend

Service Information:

Wednesday, November 11th @ Lucky Spur - 1780 Strader Rd. Justin, Texas 76247

Come and Go As You Are

2 - 5 PM: Light Appetizers

5 PM: Service and Eulogy

5:30 - 10 PM: Fajitas, Bar, and Fellowship (Roger requested this be his "party") 

In lieu of Flowers, Roger wanted to honor the amazing nurses he adored. Please donate in his memory to the Nursing Excellence Fund, https://www.texashealth.org/foundation/programs/Nursing-Excellence 

If you prefer to send something to the family, he ask that it not be cut flowers. He would prefer plants or arrangements that could live on as part of his legacy. 

Roger William Melton, lovingly remembered as a husband, father, PaPa, brother, and friend, passed away on November 2, 2026, at 6:43 AM, surrrounded by his wife and children as he took his last breath and walked into the arms of his Lord and Savior, at the age of 69. Born on March 7, 1957, Roger carried through life the kind of presence that could not be mistaken: salt of the earth, steady as the land he loved, stubborn when it counted, stoic when needed, and always armed with a dry sense of humor. He was a provider and protector in the truest sense, a man’s man with an epic mustache, cut-off sleeves, holey jeans, and a look that brought Sam Elliott to mind more than once.

Born and raised in Iowa, Roger grew up on the family farm alongside his seven siblings, surrounded by a loving extended family. That early life on the land never left him. It shaped his hands, his work ethic, and his deep affection for hay, dirt work, gardening, hunting, and fishing. When he relocated to Texas in the 1970s, he brought that grit and know-how with him and put it to work in a life spent building, digging, and making a mark that was as practical as it was lasting.

Roger worked in excavation from the time he came to Texas and went on to become the owner and operator of Melton Excavating. He also contributed to building the original roads in Denton and surrounding counties in the 1970s and 1980s with Delton Carraway and the State of Texas. His work was honest, hard, and tangible—the kind you can still point to. Roger loved the land and understood it, whether he was moving dirt, working hay, or tending a yard. He was happiest when there was something to fix, shape, build, or improve.

Outside of work, Roger lived with gusto and unmistakable style. He loved his Nova, motorcycles, fishing, yard work, and gatherings with family and friends, especially cookouts where stories could be told, laughter could roll, and nobody left hungry. He loved cigars and cigarillos, whiskey or Scotch, and the simple pleasures that come with a life well earned. He still holds the record for Lake Grapevine largemouth bass caught by rod and reel in 1999, a fact that surely deserves to be told with at least a little admiration and probably a grin. It suited him perfectly: part legend, part skill, part determination, and all Roger.

Among the memories held close by those who loved him is the time he spent with his nephew Donald Joe Dockery, whose influence helped shape Roger’s relationship with Christ. Faith, family, and loyalty were not things Roger wore for show; they were part of his foundation.

Memories he held close were the travels that he and his wife Dawn had begun to prioritize and enjoy in the last several years. Memories and plans he leaves behind that Dawn will carry with her forever.

Of all his accomplishments, Roger was proudest of his children and grandchildren, and of the 36 years he shared with his wife, Dawn. He also treasured the friendships, memories, and properties shared with the Hedges family, a bond that grew into something far deeper than friendship and became family. He took great pride in the lives unfolding around him: in Angie and Brandon Moors’ entrepreneurial spirit and the creation of Funky Town Donuts; in Angie’s accomplishments in experiential marketing and her gift for personalized event planning for an upscale clientele; in Cassidy Galloway’s work ethic, business acumen, and devotion to family, qualities rooted in Roger’s upbringing; in Jeromey Melton’s woodworking skills and entrepreneurial accomplishments; and in Shelby Peacock’s passion for education and her recognition as Teacher of the Year in just her third year of teaching. He delighted in McKelby’s love of dance, Hattie’s love of theater, Zane’s unmistakable Melton resemblance and characteristics, and Tate’s love for Christ and animals. These were not small things to him. They were the legacy he cherished most.

Roger is survived by his wife, Dawn Melton, with whom he built a life full of love, endurance, laughter, and deep family roots. He leaves behind his son Jeromey Melton, his wife Tiffany, and children Zane Melton and Brianna McDade; his daughter Angie Moors and husband Brandon, and his granddogs LeeRoy and Harold; his step-son, Cassidy Galloway and wife Jessica, and their children, Hattie Galloway and Tate Haught; and his daughter Shelby Peacock and her daughter, McKelby Peacock. He also leaves the embrace of the large, close-knit family of his wife, a family he loved dearly and who lived within walking distance, becoming over the years not just relatives by marriage but his own extended family in every way that mattered. Roger’s love for family was broad, loyal, and fierce, and the people he gathered around him were among the great joys of his life.

He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Melton; his mother, Frances Melton; and his mother-in-law, Marybeth Barrow.

Roger William Melton leaves behind the kind of memory that does not sit quietly. It rumbles like a motorcycle, smells faintly of fresh dirt, cigar smoke, and a backyard cookout, and looks out from under a legendary mustache with a knowing half-smile. He was strong, funny, hardworking, and deeply loved. The roads and house pads he helped build remain, but even more enduring is the path he carved through the lives of those who knew him. He will be missed dearly, remembered often, and talked about the way all true legends are—with love, laughter, and a little bit of awe.