Mr. Melton Eugene Finley was the youngest of 4 children born on March 7th, 1932 to the late Mr. and Mrs. Leroy and Bertha Finley in Clay Station, a small Texas town.   Melton accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and professed his faith at Pleasant Home Baptist Church.  Mr. Finley was a child piano prodigy who could play a diverse range of musical styles from gospel to the the blues.   In fact, he had the opportunity to play for the legendary blues singer B.B. King when he visited Texas and was invited to tour with him!  However, rather than going on the road, Mr. Finley was urged by his family to continue his studies.  Mr. Finley attended and graduated at age 16 from Dunbar high school.  After graduation, he attended Mary-Allen College where he was on the football team and was a singer in the glee club until he was drafted into the military.  A United States Army Veteran, Mr. Finley served our country honorably during the Korean War.  During that time, he was overjoyed to learn that his daughter Patricia Ann was born.  On June 15th, 1968, Mr. Finley married his Everlasting Love, the beautiful Rosie Mae Ferguson of Brenham/Harris Spring, Texas.  They moved to Houston and obtained membership at Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church under the pastorship of the Late Dr. Gusta Booker Sr. who became Mr. Finley's longtime friend.  From this blissful union, the Finley's gave birth to their son Melton Leroy and baby girl, Melanie Rogenia.

Mr. Finley completed his college education at Prairie View A&M University obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Education and teaching certifications in Elementary Health and Physical Education and Elementary Self-Contained Grades.  He subsequently completed his Master's Degree in Counseling at Prairie View and worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for the state of Texas and a psychology professor at Houston Community College.  While Mr. Finley enjoyed working in the field of education and counseling, he had a strong desire to pursue entrepreneurship, so he transitioned to the field of Marketing and Insurance where he owned and operated his own company, Creative Marketing Techniques for several years.  A natural communicator and motivator with a winning personality, Mr. Finley earned the distinction of Regional Vice President of Marketing for many different insurance companies and received numerous accolades in the industry.

Faith, family, and fun was a passion of Mr. Finley's, so he organized the Finley, Heard/Hurd, DeVault, Jenkins Family Reunion that took place annually in Brenham, TX for a number of years.  Mr. Finley and his adoring wife Rosie were faithful and dedicated members of Greater St. Matthew Church for over 50 years where he served as the Head of the Board of Trustees, a Deacon and a part-time singer and musician.  Melton and Rosie Finley shared an amazing life together for 55 years celebrating everyday with their family and friends by attending church events, graduations, plays, birthday parties, weddings, football games, college homecoming events, and any event that would bring people together!  Mr. Finley can be described as a fun-loving father, grandfather, educator, entrepreneur, singer, musician, organizer, communicator, motivator, and in his own words, "the greatest salesman in the whole wide world!" Mr. Melton Eugene Finley lived by his own original motto, "What's behind the door, I cannot tell.  But this I know; and know it well.  The more I open the more I sell!"

On Tuesday, November 28th, a beautifully brisk fall day, Melton Eugene Finley peacefully left his earthly vessel to rest eternally with the Lord.  He is preceded in death by his Father and Mother, Leroy and Bertha Finley, brother, Lester Finley, sisters, Fannie Vergil Hubbard and Earnestine Blair, and nephews, Bennie Hughes and Frederick "Freddy" Ferguson.  Melton Eugene Finley leaves to cherish his memory: His son, Melton Leroy Finley (Rhonda), daughters, Patricia Carr, and Melanie Gordon (William), two nieces, Mildred "Mickey" Ratliff and Vergil "Rochelle" Ratliff, a host of loving grandchildren, great-grandchildren, god-children, great nieces and nephews, cousins, business associates, and an abundance of friends.