Melva Lewis

Melva Rose Lewis, 78, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, April 30, 2002, in Prague, Czech Republic.

She was born July 20, 1923, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Benjamin R. and Selma Meyer Schrader. She and Francis F. Lewis were married Oct. 21, 1950. He died June 1, 1988.

Lewis was a 1940 graduate of Central High School. She received a bachelor of science degree in education and a bachelor of arts degree with majors in English and history from Southeast Missouri State University in 1944.

After working in St. Louis as a copywriter for Famous-Barr, she was an advertising account executive for the Cape Girardeau News and the Southeast Missourian. She was later secretary for United Way and had worked in the news department at the Southeast Missourian.

Lewis was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Chapter GF of P.E.O., GFWC Quest Club and Cape Girardeau County Genealogical Society.

Survivors include a son, Benjamin F. Lewis of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Carole Anne Iles of Ashland, Mo., Mary Francis Young of Davis, Calif.; a sister, Margie Lee Caterson of Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.; and six grandchildren.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Paul Kabo officiating. Inurnment will be in Cape County Memorial Park.