Zola M. (Ray) Melichar, 88, Lincoln, passed away on September 8, 2018. Born May 16, 1930, in Dickens, NE to Harvey and Blanche (Lacey) Harris. Zola was a member of Northeast Missionary Church.
Family members include her daughters Patricia (Frank) Proffer of Coolidge, AZ; Peggy (Scott) McDonald of Stratton, NE; Shannon (Jim) Unger of Lincoln, NE and sons Michael (Joanne) Ray of Portland, OR; Dennis (Marilyn) Ray of Omaha, NE; and Tim Ray of Sun City West, AZ. She also is survived by 10 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and brother Vern Harris of Dickens, NE. Preceded in death by husbands Harvey “Bud” Ray and Robert (Bobby) Melichar, sister Ruth Blomstedt, brother and sister-in-law Robert (Hazel) Harris, sister-in-law Ann Harris and grandson Brian Unger.
Zola met the love of her life and was united in marriage on June 4, 1948. Harvey and Zola homesteaded on the Mirage Flats near Hays Springs, Nebraska on land designated for young veterans. They developed unimproved lands and built a grade “A” Dairy Farm. It was there that their first three children were born, Patricia Ann, Michael Eugene and Dennis Bruce.
They sold their farm and moved to Alliance, Nebraska in 1958. Their next three children were born in Alliance, Peggy Jean, Shannon Lee, and Timothy Shawn. In December 1965, the family relocated to Lincoln, Nebraska, where Zola began working at Ben Simons.
Harvey and Zola joined Northeast Missionary Church on February 27, 1972, where they served for their entire married life. Zola served the church by utilizing her musical talents playing the piano, singing, and encouraging family and friends to utilize their musical talents. Harvey and Zola never met a stranger setting a wonderful example for church, family, and friends of the meaning of hospitality.
Following the death of Harvey in 1989, Zola married Robert (Bobby) Melichar on October 15, 1994. Bobby and Zola spent the next fifteen years traveling the world and enjoying the sunshine in Tucson, Arizona as snow birds. When they weren’t traveling you could find them on the golf course or at a garage sale. Following Bobby’s death in 2009, Zola continued her snow bird ways. The last nine years, Tim, her youngest son, cared for her both in Lincoln and Arizona.
Zola’s crowning achievement was being a mother, grandmother and great grandmother. In this endeavor she was absolutely the best.
Visitation: Family will greet friends from 6pm-7:30pm on Thursday followed by a Celebration of Zola’s life at 2:00 p.m. Friday (9-14-18) at Roper and Sons South Chapel, 3950 Hohensee Drive (40th & Yankee Hill Rd.)
Memorials may be sent to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention or The Marfan Foundation.