St. George, UT " Melba Eagar Empey age 86, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2014 in St. George, Utah. She was born in Hurricane Utah on February 19, 1928 to Thomas Eagar and Vera Hinton Eagar.

Melba possessed the same practical hardy spirit as her pioneer ancestors. The most important things in her life were family, friends, church and community. Melba especially enjoyed the simple things such as flowers, plants, good food and drawings by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Melba had fond memories of growing-up in Hurricane when it was a very small community. She married Henry Wilson Empey in the St. George LDS Temple on May 24, 1945 and they built a home in St. George where they raised four children. In the mid 1950s, Melba was a founding member of the Dixie Sewing Club. She enjoyed meeting with other St. George moms to sew and talk about their children and later their grandchildren. Melba was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and especially liked working with children in the primary organization.

Melba is survived by her four children: Thomas (Lissa) Empey, of Salem, Oregon; Michael (Colleen) Empey of Washington, Utah; Sherri (Michael) Yardley of Milford, Utah; and Cindy (Scott) Dyer of Las Vegas, Nevada. Melba has fourteen grandchildren and thirty-five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by two sisters, Nedra Kemple and Barbara Dutton and a brother Delwin Eagar. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and a sister Lenna Merrill.

The family would especially like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at Dixie Regional Medical Center, the staff at Coral Desert Rehabilitation, the caring staff at Sterling Court Assisted Living and Intermountain Hospice. A special thank you to daughter-in-law Colleen who has served as primary caregiver for several years.

A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Hurricane City Cemetery, 250 East 600 North, Hurricane, Utah. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary (435) 673-4221.