Melinda Faye Gerlach, 72, of Caddo, Oklahoma passed away on May 1, 2026, in Denison, Texas. Melinda was born on April 27, 1954, in Memphis, Texas to parents Jimmy Wayne and Charles Irene (Hammonds) Gerlach. Melinda moved with her family to Bryan County when she was a baby. She graduated from Caddo High School, Class of “72”.
Melinda loved camping, fishing, gardening, family time, road trips, and politics (except for Trump). She was always taking in all the struggling kids as her own and helping them through trying times. At the top of the list for her other kids would definitely be Tara Jo Payne, Ashley Anderson, Justin Stephens and all the other pallbearers. She loved them same way and always raised them as her own. She worked at family-owned G&W Body Works for 35 plus years from the age of 17 as the secretary and treasurer until they sold. Melinda then worked in the bakery at Walmart, cafeteria at SOSU for a bit, bought snake root for awhile at the shop, and threw newspapers for the Durant Daily Democrat. Although she endured many health struggles and surgeries, she was a fighter with her strength and courage and with the love and support of her loved ones.
Melinda is preceded in death by her parents, Jimmy Wayne and Charles Irene Gerlach, and brother, Alvis Wayne Gerlach.
Family left behind to continue Melinda’s legacy are her daughter, Chasity Gerlach of Caddo, Okla.; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Looney of Caddo, Okla.; nephew, Chris Gerlach and wife Brooke of Durant, Okla.; niece, Carley Gerlach of Caddo, Okla.; chosen daughters: Tara Payne and husband T.J. of Norman, Okla., and Ashley Anderson of Durant, Okla., and numerous extended family and very dear friends.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Brown’s Durant Funeral Service Chapel. Bro. Anthony Williams will officiate. Interment will follow on Melinda’s family land at Pleasant Hill. Pallbearers will be Jeremy Sheffield, Nickey Meade, Chris Gerlach, Cole Lambert, Jeremy Swindell, and Casey Garrett. The family will receive friends at the Funeral Home on Friday evening from 6-8 PM.
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown’s Durant Funeral and Cremation Service.