Melissa (Hills) Athey was born in Crawford County, Illinois, June 9, 1860. She was the daughter of Chancy and Deliza Meyers Hills. On August 27, 1882 she was married to Henry Oren Athey, who preceded her in death on March 27, 1917. To this union were born seven children; one daughter having died at the age of three, and a son, the late Floyd T. Athey of Nickerson, Kansas, having passed away October, 1952.
She united with the Christian church when a young woman and never lost interest in the church, its program and her many Christian friends.
Her early life was spent in Crawford County. In 1900 she with her husband and family, moved to a farm near Martinsville, Illinois, where they resided until 1908, when they moved into town.
The past several years she has spent most of her time with her children. In November of 1947 she went to Portland, Oregon, to be with her daughter, Madge Nelson. Four days after arriving in Portland, she was stricken. However, she recovered sufficiently to enjoy many happy hours with her loved ones there. She passed away in Portland on March 23, 1953, at the age of 92 years, 9 months and 14 days.
She leaves to mourn her: Mrs. J.O. McGinniss of Martinsville, Mrs. Eva Custis and Mrs. Madge Nelson of Portland, Oregon, Mr. Charles Athey of Enterprise, Kansas, and Mr. Arthur Athey of Vidor, Texas. Besides two grandchildren whom she raised after their mother's death, Mrs. Hilda MacDonald of Inglewood, California, and Clifford Athey of Dabajuro, Venezuela, she leaves 16 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, many nephews and nieces and a host of friends.