1927-2007

Services were held Tuesday in Traverse City with interment in the Solon Township Cemetery in Cedar for Melba “Ruth” Flees of Cedar who died Oct. 27 at Maple Valley Nursing Home. She was 80.

She was born Aug. 6, 1927 to Edgar and Blanche (Eargood) Heath. On Aug. 4, 1945, in Traverse City, she married Frank Flees, who survives.

She grew up in Mesick and became a resident of Leelanau County upon her marriage. She and her husband owned and operated Frank Flees & Sons Logging for 43 years where she served as bookkeeper and ran errands daily.

She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and her dogs. She was devoted to the Maple Valley Community Church.

Also surviving are her four sons, Frank (Joan) Jr. of Rochester Hills, Thomas (Patricia) of Leesburg, Ind., Richard (Elaine) of Cedar; and Greg (Rosie) of Cedar; a sister, Edna Bailey of Cadillac; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sisters, Marion Hamilton and Doris Hillard.

Memorial donations may be directed to Maple Valley Community Church, radio station WLJN; or the Cherryland Humane Society.