Melody Gaston Obituary (1954

On July 23rd, 2021, Melody Hope Gaston peacefully exited this world surrounded by her loving family and her favorite music. She was born August 29th,1954 in Chillicothe, Missouri and was one of eight siblings. In 1983, she married the love of her life, Randy Gaston. They celebrated their 38th wedding anniversary on June 4th, 2021. Through decades of many moves with the Army and Union Pacific Railroad, she kept a tight ship and an organized household as the homemaker with her four daughters. She approached her 66 years of life with grace, humor and laughter never allowing illness to define her. As children, when Melody's daughters asked to go out to eat for dinner, she was quick to quip, "Wear what you like, we're going to Melody's Kitchen!" Melody was a daughter, sister, best friend, wife, mother, and our 'Mema' The glue that held the family together. She achieved her life's mission keeping Randy grounded, raising her daughters to be independent women and supporting her grandkids. Our Matriarch was always "family first" even "adopting" loved ones as her own along the way. She loved our big family gatherings and visits with her sisters at her home she and Randy built. Days began and ended on the front porch sipping Dunkin Donuts coffee with french vanilla creamer while watching "the girls" (cows) grazing the pasture in the field next door and catching sunsets across the horizon. She loved her ever changing flower garden, the wildlife with hummingbird visits outside her kitchen window and a great day thrifting for treasures and keepsakes to display throughout the house. She had such joy spending time with all of her grandkids. Her older ones loved spoiling her with cooked lunches, baking cherry pies and chocolate chip cookies while she kept the pantry filled with all the "good stuff" for the many slumber parties at her "home on the hill." Melody will forever be missed and cherished through loving memories and stories we will never stop sharing for more generations to come. She is preceded in death by her mom and dad, Howard and Lois Daniel of Chillicothe, MO, three brothers, David Daniel, Larry Daniel and Wally Daniel (Bubby) and her sister Penny Martens. She is survived by her husband and life partner, Randy; her daughters Amber Gaston, Melissa Gaston, Ryan Fideler (Mark), Randi Watson (Walter David), Jessie Evans (Allison) and Lindsey Stark (Drew)--whom she loved as her own; her 15 grandchildren Kaileigh and Great grandson Alejandro, Raelynn, DJ, Jaycianna, Taevyn, Olivia, Madilyn, Savannah, Henry, Ellie, Sadie, Fianna, Everett, Theo; as well as three siblings, John Daniel (Debbie), Mary Duncan (Steve), and Julie Martin (Sid) and the many loved ones who were special in her life. Melody Gaston, 66, of Glenwood, IA, passed away Friday, July 23, 2021 at the CHI Health Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, IA. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at the Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Following the funeral the family invites everyone for a time of fellowship at the First Congregation U.C.C. fellowship hall 109 N. Walnut St. Glenwood, IA. Loess Hills Funeral Home in Glenwood is caring for Melody and her family. The funeral will be live streamed on the funeral home facebook page: Loess Hills Funeral Home Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 30, 2021 at the Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Chillicothe, Missouri (US-65 Chillicothe, MO) Following the graveside service the family invites everyone for a time of fellowship at the Blackwater Restaurant and Lounge 612 First St. Chillicothe, MO 64601. Memorials: Directed to the American Heart Association of Omaha, 9900 Nichols St, Suite 200, Omaha, NE 68114