Melba A. Smith Cottam

Melba A. Smith Cottam of Miami died Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009, at Integris Baptist Regional Health Center in Miami.  She was 84. 

Mrs. Cottam was born Oct. 28, 1925, in Picher to Claude E. and Fina M. (Mitchell) Smith Sr.  She lived in Miami all her life and graduated from Miami Business College.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Miami, was in the church choir, hand bells and sang in Sweet Adelines.  She was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert G. Smith in 1978, her second husband, Paul C. Cottam in 1998, and her parents.

Survivors include one son and his wife, Larry D. and Carol Smith of Miami; one stepson and his wife, Larry G. and Melanie Cottam of Richardson, Texas; two daughters, Judy S. Street of Olathe, Kan., and Janean Smith of Broken Arrow; one stepdaughter and her husband, Judy K. and Doug Rhodes of Virginia; one sister, Naomi L. Higeons of Claremore; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, six stepgrandchildren and seven stepgreat-grandchildren,

Services were 10 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church in Miami. The Rev. Rick Longcrier will officiate.  Burial was in G.A.R. Cemetery in Miami.