Meda M. Rideout

As the sun was rising on January 21, 1954, it meant the beginning of the life of Meda M. Rideout. This beautiful baby girl was born to Merlin and Marjorie Powers Melton in Torrance, California. Meda was a freight driver for Bill Hines Trucking Company and a Mormon. During all of her 56 seasons of life, she made friends across every race, gender, faith and creed. On Sunday, February 28, 2010 at St. Joseph’s Mercy Health Center in Hot Springs, Arkansas with her children at her bedside to bid her a safe journey home her soul departed this earth. Her gentle smile and infectious laugh lives on forever. Meda will be eternally missed by her five children: Lee Roy Powers (Ellen Buck) of Gurdon, Arkansas, April Powers of Gurdon, Arkansas, Jeanie Conrad (Ron) of Clio, Michigan, Robert Woolridge (Angel Waters) of Gurdon, Arkansas, and David Woolridge of Gurdon, Arkansas; her mother Marjorie Powers; two sisters, Johanna Fencler of Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Betty Daniels of Fontana, California; one brother, Leo (Jonie) Melton of Salt Lake City, Utah; 17 grandchildren, one great-grandchild and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and numerous friends. A memorial service to commemorate her life will be held on Thursday, March 4, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary of Missionary Grove Baptist Church in Prescott, Arkansas with Rev. Charles Thornton officiating.