Services for Mr. Melvin Ray Tingle were held 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 21, 2019 at Clarke Venable Baptist Church. Burial was in Decatur City Cemetery. Rev. Mark Vincent officiated.
Visitations was held 5-8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20 at Clarke Venable Baptist Church and 10-11 a.m. Monday prior to service.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Betty Tingle of Decatur; two daughters, Karen Collins and husband, Curt, of Tupelo and Emily Usry and husband, Steve, of Decatur; son, Mingo Tingle of Canton; eight grandchildren, Hayes Collins and wife, Allyson, Aubrey Stone and husband, Nathan, Leah Collins, Mariah Usry and fiancé, Hayden, Riley Usry , Isaac Tingle, Jude Tingle and Melynne Tingle; and sister-in-law, Honor Tingle of Brandon.
Mr. Tingle is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews
Mr. Tingle is preceded in death by parents, Fletcher W. Tingle and Etna Munday Tingle; and four brothers, Fletcher, Charles, R.C. and Orville.
Pallbearers were Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks officers.
Melvin Ray Tingle, 84, of Decatur, MS, passed away peacefully at his home on Oct. 18, 2019, surrounded by his beloved family. Melvin was born Feb. 28, 1935, in Philadelphia, MS to the late Fletcher W. Tingle Sr. and Etna Munday Tingle. Melvin was educated in the Philadelphia Public Schools and East Central Junior College. He also served his country in the U.S. Army. While attending ECJC, Melvin met and married the love of his life, Betty Sims Tingle. After trying his hand at a few careers - including a restaurant business with his bride - he was hired by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks in 1966. He served the MDWFP in several different roles always promoting, the conservation of Mississippi’s wildlife and natural resources. Melvin was an avid hunter and fisherman, and he was able to live out his dream after acquiring the position of Host for The Mississippi Outdoors television show. He was known as the face of hunting and fishing in the Magnolia State and loved getting to meet the people of Mississippi. He cherished the people he served alongside in the MDWFP and his co-workers at Mississippi Educational Television. Melvin was an avid historian, collector, and publisher preserving Mississippi history. He enjoyed sharing his collection of artifacts in the museum he established, known as the Okla Museum - Okla being the Choctaw phrase for “the people”. Melvin loved his family and the great outdoors, but more than that he loved the Creator of the great outdoors. Proclaiming and displaying his love for Christ was one of the greatest passions throughout his life. Melvin was never shy to share that same love with others while being a walking example of the Gospel of Christ. I’m sure many of us are looking forward to the day we can hear him once again say to us “See Ya Outdoors!”
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