Melvin Tolvis Maness was the son of  Cecil and Edith (Andrews) Maness and was born in Madisonville, Texas on Jan. 13, 1939. He graduated from the Madisonville High School in 1956 and served his country in the United States Navy for four years. He was of Baptist Faith and accepted Christ at the age of 12. Melvin retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in 1991 as an agriculture supervisor after 30 years of service. He loved the Lord, his family and his country.  

Melvin passed away at his home in Robbins, Texas on Jan. 30, 2013.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and by two brothers, Gene Maness and Marion “Tom” Maness.  

Melvin is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Linda Maness; his beloved daughter, Marnie Wood and her husband, Doyle; grandchildren, Sami Wood and Ethan Tolvis Wood; brothers, Cecil F. Maness and his wife, Nell and Alwin Maness and his wife, Liz; mother-in-law, Cloteal Watson; sisters-in-law, Jackie Maness, Joyce Maness Sharp, Marilyn Havard and her husband, Jack, Molly Standley and her husband, Aubrey and Tommie Johnson and her husband, Bill; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services for Melvin T. Maness are set for 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 at the Walters Funeral Home in Centerville. Lynn Stroud will officiate and burial will follow in the Liberty Cemetery just north of Centerville.  

A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Scott Isbell, Alan Isbell, Tommy Crum, Brady Brownlow, Dwayne Conrad and Steve Baker will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. A.G. Ollre, Kenneth Baker, J.C. Williamson, Perry Reed, Doug Cadenhead, Carl Conrad, Lowell Clay and Wayne Newton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Traditions Hospice, 1520 E. Main St., Madisonville, Texas 77864; phone: 936-348-2707.

Arrangements are under the direction of Walters Funeral Home.