TERRY RAY MELTON, 78, of Azle, TX passed away
on July 17, 2025 surrounded by his wife and kids, with
burial in the Alameda Cemetery near Ranger, TX.
Terry was born on Oct. 21, 1946 to L.Z. & Emma Lois
Melton in Gorman, TX. Terry started working at the
age of 12 with a paper route. At age 14, he cleaned
the shop at Sarco working there until he was a Junior
in High School. While working there he was taught how
to repair and make sport equipment. The manager at the
time said if he had a boy, he would want him to be just
like Terry.
Terry bought his own car in May 1964. A 1964 Chevy II
Super Sport, beige and red interior, 4 on the floor
with bucket seats, two door, hard top. Brand new just
off the truck that hadn't received its maintenance. He
loved showing it off and even raced it.
Terry graduated Ranger High School in 1965, went to
Ranger Jr. College and Tarleton State University in
Stephenville until he got all he could out of the
local colleges and went to North Texas.
Terry worked, went to college and got married at the
same time. He worked at Victor Equipment Company in
Denton where they made cutting torches for four months
then moved back to Ranger. In Ranger he worked at
Southwest Machine + Tools as an inspector for the
parts made for bigger companies. Southwest Machine
+ Tools sold out and moved the company to Gladewater
so Jerry moved to Hawkins near Gladewater. He stayed
a year and a half then moved back to Ranger. Terry
worked for ELCO in Breckenridge, TX where he was an
inspector at the machine shop where they made airplane
parts. He switched jobs to Subterranean tools to be
an inspector and quality control manager for the
machines they made that went in gold and diamond
mines. Subterranean tools sold out so Terry went to
work for Don Neville in his shop, Neville Machine
Shop. He worked there for over 15 years helping run
the shop. From there Jerry went to Ram and was foreman
until he moved to Fort Worth in 1996 where he worked
for Dalworth Machine Shop making molds. Moving on to
Milcraft making parts for the government until they
went out of business. From there Terry went to Sky
Industry where they made helicopter parts. Terry
finally went to SES to help make a movable Goal -
post for TCU. He retired at the age of 70. Terry
was a good machinist and a good provider.
Terry did different things in his life. He loved
fishing, hunting, horseback riding & playing guitar.
He had a horse named Princess, that he won trophies
with as well as riding in parades. Terry was a loving
husband, a great father to his children, a great
friend to his brother.
He is preceded in death by his father, L.Z. Milton;
mother, Emma Lois Melton; brother, Lonnie Melton (RHS-
1956); and sister-in-law, Wanda Melton (RHS-1964).
Terry is survived by his loving wife of 26 years,
Karen Deniese Melton; three beautiful and wonderful
daughters, Kimber Melton Rodgers (RHS-1988), Kelly
Melton Wilson (RHS-1994) and Karina Melton Turner
(RHS-1996); best friend and brother, Jackie Melton
(RHS-1969); grandchildren, Krystal Archer, Jessica
Richard, Gabriel Wilson, Wyatt Turner, Owen Turner
and Karrigan Tinsley; six great-grandchildren.
Terry was great man. A wonderful husband and father
and he loved seeing his grandchildren and his great-
grandchildren.