Melva C. Geores

MONMOUTH – Melva C. Geores of Monmouth died peacefully on Feb. 26, 2026, at her home at the age of 99. Melva was born Aug. 24, 1926, in Schenectady, N.Y., to J. Chrystean (Cullings) and Walter B. Fowler.

She graduated from Draper High School in 1943 and entered the first class of the Cadet Nurse Corps at Albany Hospital, graduating from Russell Sage School of Nursing in December 1946. She married Carl H. Geores Jr., on Dec. 28, 1946, in Schenectady, N.Y. She worked as a nurse in Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, N.Y., until the birth of her first child in 1948.

She journeyed with her husband Carl through his college and seminary education and on to their ministry in Maine in 1952. They moved into the manse in Leeds where they raised their family. During the 39 years they served the Leeds, Wales and Hartford Parish as well as other churches in the Mission at the Eastward, Melva was a wife, partner in the ministry, mother to six children, and homemaker, as well as being the de facto church secretary. In 1973 she returned to the paid work force as a nurse at Montello Manor. When they retired in 1988 they were required by the Presbyterian Church rules to move out of the area and they left Maine. She longed to return home to friends and family and have a home of her own. She got her wish as they built a house in Monmouth where she turned her attention to family, supporting her children and nurturing her grandchildren and grandchildren. We are grateful for that time.

Her life spans almost 40% of the nation’s history and she shared her perspective on what happened, and how it influenced lives over the years. She advocated for ways to enhance the lives of family, friends and neighbors, and her neighbors included people near and far. Melva was a charter member of the Leeds Community Church. She was a member of the Presbyterian Women’s Association in Leeds and served in leadership positions in the Presbytery of Northern New England, and the Synod of the Northeast. She was a person of faith who followed the scriptures “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”.

Melva is predeceased by her husband Carl of 62 years (in 2008), her parents and two sisters, Metta and Marian. She is survived by her children Paul (Jacqueline) of Albany, N.Y., Martha of Monmouth, Ruth of Turner, Deborah of Vancouver, Wash., Peter (Susan Miller) of Portland, Timothy (Susan) of Albuquerque, N.M.; a multitude of grandchildren and great grandchildren; and her loyal comfort dog Bentley. We will all miss her.

The family thanks Andwell and especially Sarah, Alysia, Stacey, and Peter, as well as Naomi and Sandy for excellent and compassionate care provided in this last phase of her life.

At the convenience of the family the service of internment will be held at the family plot in Van Vechten Cemetery, Florida, N.Y., at the end of May. There will be a worship service and time of remembrance at the Leeds Community Church later this summer.