|
Melba Irene Vick Shelby, 87, died Sunday, November 7, 2010 after a brief illness. She was born in Chattanooga, TN on January 23, 1923 to the late JB and Ellen Vick. She spent much of her young adulthood singing on the radio throughout the south with the Vick Quartet. In 1942 she entered the USO and entertained soldiers across the US singing and playing piano. After the war, she remained with the USO touring nearly every country in Europe as well as Burma, Japan, China, Pakistan, and India. She continued her singing career after leaving the USO as the "Rural Sophisticate" and appeared at the Stork Room in London, England, Brown Hotel in Louisville, KY, Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City and Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, CA. She made appearances with George Gobel, Henry Busse, Rudy Valle and Chico Marx. In 1951 she married John Shelby. After living at several army bases John retired from the army and they settled with their family in Albuquerque in 1959 where they joined Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Melba continued singing and playing the piano at many local establishments including Sandia and Kirtland Officers Clubs, Downtowner, Lost Knight, Firehouse, Petroleum Club and Sizzler Steakhouse. She was active in the early years of the Albuquerque Civic Light Opera performing and arranging for props. After husband John died she married Ambrose Casey in 1990. They enjoyed more than 10 years together. She enjoyed traveling, playing piano, attending musicals and throwing annual Christmas parties at her home. She recently volunteered at the VA Hospital. She was preceded in death by her first husband, John Shelby, their sons Mark, Matthew and John Jr., and her second husband, Ambrose Casey. She is survived by her brother JT Vick and wife Pudgy of Chattanooga, TN; children Ellen Doyle of Weatherford, Texas and Luke Shelby and wife Yvette of Albuquerque; step-children John Casey of Albuquerque, Sheila Casey of Los Alamos and Susan Casey. She had six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several step-grandchildren. Rosary will be recited at 6:00 pm, Thursday November 11 at French Funerals, 1111 University NE. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Friday November 12 at Our Lady of Fatima Church. There will be an internment ceremony at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe at 2:00 pm on the same day. Pallbearers will be Luke J. Shelby, Crystal Shelby, Katie Shelby, Greg Vick, John Casey and Terry O'Mara. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Brothers of the Good Shepherd, 218 Iron SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, Attn: Brother Gerard Sullivan.
|
