Melva Dean (Mackey) Strahan was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas to the parents of Sherrell and Vivian Mackey on April 14, 1940. Melva married the love of her life, Ervin Strahan, on June 5, 1964.

Melva was preceded in death by her husband Ervin Strahan; parents Sherrell and Vivian Mackey; sisters Chlora Vee Cook and Maxine Pyle; brothers Marvin Mackey and David Mackey.

She is survived by her daughters Rachel and husband Joe LeJeune, Sherry and husband Robert Engel, Ginger and husband Terry Mitchell. Sister Virgie Smith, brother Edward and wife Linda Mackey and many other family members and special friends.

With the passing years she had the pleasure of seeing her family grow to include eleven grandchildren; Rodney and wife Beatrice Bowersox, April and husband Matt Long, Nicholas and wife Kassie LeJeune, Jessica and husband Cesar Guerra, Jacqueline LeJeune, Clinton LeJeune, Evan and wife Morgan Engel, Meaghan and husband Kaleb Boazman, Kaleigh and husband Jose Cleto, Jazmin Mitchell and Taylor Mitchell. Her family continued to grow with 15 great grandchildren; Johnathan, Andrea, Brandy, Rodney (Trey), Blayne, Kynadee, Logan, Cooper, Jensen, Timothy, Leah, Nikolas (Niko), Zachary, Eric, Adelyn.

Melva was proud to serve as legal librarian for the Jamail and Kolius law firm for several decades.

Pastor Will Odom officiating. The service will also be live streamed for those unable to attend.

Serving as pallbearers are Joe LeJeune, Robert Engel, Terry Mitchell, Rodney Bowersox, Nicholas LeJeune, Evan Engel, Clinton LeJeune, Cesar Guerra, Matt Long and Kaleb Boazman.