Jane Melugin Henry

Jane Melugin Henry was born February 17, 1917 in Murray, Kentucky to Clifford and B Wall Melugin. She died February 24 at Hickory Woods Retirement Center in Murray, Kentucky, where she was lovingly cared for by Hospice, her dedicated caretakers and Miss Kitty.

She graduated from Murray State Teachers College (now Murray State University) in 1937 and received a Masters degree in Zoology from Louisiana State University in 1939. She married George D. Henry in 1941 before moving to Jonesboro where she lived for 65 years. She was also a winter resident of Florida for over 20 years.

She taught chemistry and physical science at Jonesboro High School for 13 years until she retired in 1975. She will be remembered by all who knew her for her varied interests, her broad intelligence, her long red hair worn in a bun and above all, for her fierce independence.

She has been a member of the First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro since 1941, transferring her membership to FUMC in Murray, Kentucky when she moved there to be closer to her daughter. She was a charter member of the Jonesboro Junior Auxiliary, the Finesse Bridge Club and the Northeast Arkansas Audubon Society. Her volunteer service included the St. Bernard’s Hospital Auxiliary since 1976 and earlier as a Girl Scout leader and a Red Cross First Aid Instructor. She was proud of her membership in the Gladiolus Garden Club as a certified flower show judge and being chosen as one of the winners of the 1955 Pillsbury Bake Off.

She is predeceased by her husband and their son, George Donald Henry, Jr., and is survived by two daughters, Melissa and her husband Sid Easley of Murray, Kentucky and Janet and her husband, Dr. Vernon Moore of Kennebunkport, Maine. She is also survived by two grandsons, Dr. Eric Easley currently posted with the State Department in Afghanistan, Don Easley and his wife Jacqueline and three great grandchildren, Lauren, Natasha and Jackson of Columbia, Maryland.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, noon-1:00 at J.H. Churchill Funeral Home in Murray, Kentucky. A private family burial will be held at Jonesboro Memorial Park in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Emerson Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements. A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro at 12:00 on Wednesday to honor her life. Friends are invited to join the family afterwards for brunch in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a contribution to the Jonesboro Church Health Center, 200 West Matthews, Jonesboro, Arkansas 72401 or the Murray Calloway County Hospital Hospice Program, 803 Poplar Street, Murray, Kentucky 42071 or Caring Friends Ministry, First United Methodist Church, 503 Maple St., Murray, Kentucky 42071.