Geraldine Beaver Melton, 84, of Mooresboro, passed away on June 28, 2022. She was born March 3, 1938 to the late Everette and Lillian Beaver of Shelby.

A woman of many talents, Geraldine supported her late husband, Don, in two well-known family businesses, Melton Heating and Air Conditioning and Melton Custom Marble Baths. She also pursued amateur photography and found fame for her work in several local publications. She turned a spare room in her home into a darkroom and learned how to process and develop film on her own.

Geraldine's creative spirit was also found in her baking skills. She had a true talent for deserts and her delicious cakes were known far and wide. During the holiday season, Geraldine could be found baking dozens of cakes and delivering to community fire departments to show her support and honor the memory of her late son, Gene, who died in the line of duty.

Geraldine also served her community as a long-standing member of the Mooresboro Women's Club, Sandy Run Baptist Church, and the Cleveland County Rose Society. Geraldine was an avid gardener and had an amazing ability to nurture roses that were known for winning national awards. At one point, her garden boasted more than 500 beautiful rose bushes.

When Geraldine was not pruning roses, she could often be found on the softball field as her athletic ability allowed her to play well into her life and participate in the North Carolina Senior Games on the Golden Girls team.
With all of Geraldine's talents and interests, her greatest joy came from travel.

Geraldine's adventures brought her face-to-face with cobras in Morocco and bulls in Spain. Stateside, Geraldine loved national parks the best--a love she shared with her grandchildren during annual road trips across the continental United States, Alaska, and Canada.

In addition to her parents and Don, her loving spouse of sixty years, Geraldine was preceded in death by her son, Gene Melton; brother, Larry Beaver; brother, Danny Beaver; sister, Brenda Clark; and brother, Jerry Beaver.

She is survived by her son, David Melton, and wife, Susan, of Shelby; granddaughter, Mandy Melton Carter, and husband, Drew, of Harrisburg; grandson, Greg Melton, and wife, Emily, of Shelby; great-grandsons Van Carter and Levi Carter; great-granddaughters Grace Melton and Millie Melton; sister, Judy Hamlet of Shelby; sister, Kathy McCraw and husband, Brian, of Shelby; and loving nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 30, 2022 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm at Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home with a memorial service immediately following in the chapel with Rev. Dr. Tim Hendrick and Rev. Dr. Tony McCraw officiating. A private burial will be held at Cleveland Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to the North Carolina Fallen Firefighters Foundation at P. O. Box 68, Bahama, NC 27503.

Cecil M. Burton Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Mrs. Melton.