Melinda Doylene Hawk

Melinda Doylene (Needham) Hawk, 51, from Stigler, Oklahoma was born on December 15, 1971, in Talihina, Oklahoma the daughter of L. Doyle and Linda (Risenhoover) Needham.  Melinda persevered through many health obstacles for the last five years before falling asleep on May 23, 2023, surrounded by her family and awaking in the arms of Jesus.

She graduated from Quinton High School in 1990. Being the oldest of 4 children, Melinda took on many responsibilities including mothering her 3 younger siblings until she was blessed with her only child, a son, Dalton Dexter-Myles Hawk, in 1995. Prior to Dalton, Melinda homed her motherly skills by adopting her beloved Chihuahua, Chloe Jean Hawk.  Her desire to be the best Mother to Dalton inspired her to enroll in Meridian Technology Center, graduating in 1999 with many honors and awards.  She accepted a position with Oklahoma Department of Career & Technology Education as a textbook illustrator and later retired after twenty plus years of service.

Our Sister loved to travel, cook and was a true “foodie!”  She loved to try new restaurants and was always looking for new recipes to cook at home.  Sis was the most prepared person for a pandemic, as she had a stocked pantry of food and necessities to feed a third world country.  Her idiosyncrasies included fun adventures such as trips to Dallas on a whim or her last trip to the beach with her Mam, Annis. Sis was beyond organized (this is how you say she is OCD in a nice way), we won’t miss, sorry not sorry, her many lists of who is responsible for bringing the ham at any family gathering or how to organize a freezer full of food! She was determined, strong-willed (control freak), but her heart was made of pure gold and would be the first to help anyone in need.  Every one of us will miss her “good morning, how are you?” text messages and greeting cards that were sent for any and every occasion, and her many selfless acts of giving.  Our Sister is irreplaceable.  For those of you who are shedding tears, just imagine her saying, “Suck it up bawl bag!”

Melinda is survived by her son, Dalton Dexter-Myles Hawk, parents, L. Doyle and Linda (Risenhoover) Needham, sister Jennifer Glenn, brother Jerry Needham all of Perry, Oklahoma and sister Paula Rowan and husband, Josh, of Bixby, Oklahoma, Nephews Noah Needham and Ransom Glenn both of Perry, Oklahoma and Nieces Isabella and Sophie Shoemaker of Bixby, Oklahoma, Aunt Annis (Mam) Culver of Stigler, Oklahoma, Cousin-Sister Janet Cawthon of Oakwood, Ohio, and Cousin-Sister Karen Jennings of Quinton, Oklahoma, and life-long best friend Brenda Wheatley of Perry, Oklahoma, and more family and friends than anyone can shake a stick at!

Melinda was preceded in death by her Granny, Maebell (Bush) Needham, Grandfather John Ransom Needham, Grandmother Pauline (Self) Risenhoover, Grandfather Robert Risenhoover, Cousin-Brother David Wesley Cawthon, Aunt Paulann Denny, Cousin Mickey Denny, along with many other aunts, uncles, and cousins.