Olive M. Gideon

Olive "Melba" Gideon

Olive "Melba" Gideon, 90, formerly of Delia, died Monday, May 26, 2003, in Sacramento, Calif. She was born May 5, 1913, in Elmont, the daughter of John Albert and Annie Steele Currey. She graduated from Seaman High School and attended Capital City Commercial College in Topeka. Mrs. Gideon and her husband operated the Gideon Grocery Store in Delia. She also had been secretary and vice president of Shrake Electric and Shrake Electric Motors Inc. in Topeka. She also was past president of the local Credit Union Women International and past president of the Women in Construction in Topeka and Lakeport, Calif. Mrs. Gideon was a member of Amaryllis Chapter No. 321 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Rossville, Beulah Chapter No. 34 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Topeka, and Clear Lake Chapter No. 137 of the Order of the Eastern Star in Lakeport, Calif. She held several appointed positions in each chapter. She was a past lady superior of Ancient Toltec Rite No. 1 of Topeka. She married Merle L. Gideon on April 19, 1932, in Topeka. Survivors include a son, Chuck Gideon and his wife, Dee, Dublin, Calif.; and two stepgrandsons, Daniel Brown and Thomas Brown, both of California. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Parker-Price Mortuary in Topeka. Burial will be at Half-Day Cemetery in Elmont. Mrs. Gideon will lie in state after 6 p.m. today at the mortuary, where the family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 599, Topeka, 66601-0599.