Miles, Melvin E. 1935-2025 Fairfax, Mo.

FAIRFAX, Mo. – Melvin Eugene “Mel” Miles, son of Walter Marion and Anna Elizabeth “Beth” (Holmes) Miles, was born on Feb. 18, 1935, in rural Holt County, Mound City, Missouri.

He attended Elkdale School and Fairfax High School, Fairfax, Missouri, graduating in 1952. On Jan. 16, 1958, Mel entered the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri and Fort Knox in Kentucky. While at Fort Knox, Mel met the love of his life, Thelma Jean “T.J.” Stevens. On Dec. 23, 1959, they were married in Depauw, Indiana. On Jan. 15, 1960, Mel received an honorable discharge from the Army. Soon after, Mel and T.J. moved southeast of Fairfax to the Harry and Elsie Miles farm. This farm is just north of the Miles home place and farm where Mel was raised. Both farms are now honored as a Missouri Century Farm. Mel and T.J. have lived on the farm their entire married life where they raised their daughters, Lori and Susan.

Mel dearly loved his family and many friends, and they all loved him. He also loved farming with great passion. He began at age seven and spent nine decades farming the family land as well as renting the John and Fay Bowness farm and custom farming. Mel was so thankful to farm with T.J. by his side. Their daughters began helping at a young age, and he was very thankful for their continued dedication to the family farm also shared by their husbands. Mel and T.J. are very thankful for their grandson, Miles Smith, continuing to farm the family land.

Mel was a member of the Fairfax Baptist Church, where he served as Deacon, and the New Liberty Cemetery Board. Mel and his family are thankful for his good care while a resident of Tiffany Heights Care Center, in Mound City, since January. He will be sorely missed by the staff and resident friends. They are also thankful for the good care of Three Rivers Hospice.

Mel passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025, at Tiffany Heights Care Center, at the age of 90.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include T.J., of the home; daughters, Lori (Gregg) Smith, Fairfax, and Susan (Tim) Mattson, Maryville; grandchildren, Miles (Amber) Smith, Fairfax, Leslie Smith, Omaha, Nebraska, Nic Mattson, Kansas City, Tate Mattson, Kansas City, and great-grandchildren, Zailynn Cook, Harper, Ella, and Creed Smith, Cameron Kankovsky.

The service will be streamed live on Shawn Minter’s Facebook Page. Funeral Service: 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, 2025, Fairfax Baptist Church, Fairfax. Open visitation began 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio, Missouri. The family received friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, Fairfax Baptist Church, Fairfax. Interment: New Liberty Cemetery, Mound City. Memorials: Fairfax Baptist Church, Fairfax, or New Liberty Cemetery, Mound City.

Arrangements: Davis Funeral Home, Tarkio. www.minterfuneralchapels.com As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.