Claudell, KS resident, Melba Kay Larrick Hagman passed away peacefully at her home at the age of 81 on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

She was born May 23, 1943, in Ashland Kansas, the daughter of Eldo and Audrey Larrick. She grew up in Ashland with her two sisters Andee and Janice. She graduated from Ashland High School where she was homecoming queen, cheerleader, played in the band, and was the editor of the annual. Melba and Andee had many wild adventures together in high school, including taking a night swim in the local pool, drag racing the boys on Main Street in Ashland with their parent's car, and also attempting to go between two narrow poles under a bridge south of Ashland also with their parent's car.

Melba attended Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS where she met the love of her life Jerry Raymond Hagman. She graduated in the summer of 1964 with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

On December 22, 1963, she married Jerry R. Hagman in Ashland, KS. To this union two daughters were born, Kayla and Tamra. Melba and Jerry moved to Kirwin, KS, where she worked at Kansas-Nebraska Gas Company as a stenographer. In 1967, Melba began her teaching career teaching Home Economics in Agra, KS. She then became a Kensington Goldbug when she began teaching part time at Kensington High School in 1970. Melba excelled as a teacher and served the school as sponsor for KAYS, SADD, class trips, and senior trips, and participated in 29 high school proms. You could always find Melba and Jerry out on the dance floor, as their love for dancing was just as strong as their love for each other. Melba remained a Goldbug from 1970 until her retirement in August of 1999. For 14 years, Melba was a sponsor for the New York/Washington D.C. trips, as she continued to love interacting with students, serving as a seasoned guide for all their questions and ensuring they were able to have the best experiences while on the trips.

She also won many awards during her time as an educator including being nominated for the All-American Collegiate Scholar and was listed in Who's Who Among American Teachers in 1998.

She was an extremely determined and passionate woman, no matter the activity or task, whether it be riding horses or taking part in 4-H with sewing and crafting when she was younger, water skiing, reading, checking cattle with Jerry, and especially when tending to her exceptionally large, beautiful garden season after season.

Melba seamlessly took on the role of farm wife, and some of her duties included delivering anhydrous tanks to the field, accounting, seeing that everyone was where they were supposed to be, parts runner, farm cook, purchasing agent, grain marketer, and irrigator. Of her farm duties, Melba was always quick to share with anyone her love for irrigating and how she enjoyed the peace of the early mornings and late evenings while being able to experience first-hand the progression and growth of the crops year after year.

Melba irrigated alongside Darah and her husband Taylar Bohl sharing her knowledge and the ropes as they transition into being the 5th generation farmers continuing the century farm legacy. At 81 years "young" (as she would say), Melba irrigated morning and night with her grandson-in-law Taylar for the 2024 growing season, which resulted in HB Family Farms second national recognized award for the highest yielding corn in Kansas (ranking 30th overall in the USA), with a yield of 321 bushels per acre. Melba was extremely proud to have helped Taylar this summer with all irrigation tasks being so excited for morning to come to head to the fields.

Melba valued spending time with her family including her daughters, Kayla and Tamra and their husbands as well as many extended family members. Melba enjoyed attending Kayla's KSU orchestra concerts playing as principal bassoonist and sharing their love for sewing and for gardening. As an educator, Melba loved attending all of the graduation ceremonies for Kayla, Tamra, Darah and other family members throughout the years as Melba inspired all of them to receive higher education. Tamra made sure Melba had a jigsaw puzzle to tackle with each new puzzle being larger and more complex than the last and they enjoyed shopping, party planning and decorating, watching football, and taking care of Darah and recently Maevery. Andee recalls how Melba would always send birthday cards to the kids and other family members with a letter and how the kids especially would always look forward to receiving those each year.

Melba was blessed with her only grandchild, Darah Kay Portenier Bohl in September 1997 and great granddaughter Maevery Kay Bohl, who was named in honor of Melba and Jerry, in August 2023. Melba enjoyed teaching Darah how to sew, cook, tend to flowers, and take her to various places to learn about history when Darah was younger, as well as taking her roller skating, to the movies, and to the water park. Melba adored spending time with her great granddaughter Maevery playing, reading, and teaching her new tricks and skills.

She was preceded in death by her parents Eldo and Audrey Larrick and her sister Janice Erickson. She is survived by her husband Jerry Hagman; sister Andee Black and her husband Steve; daughter Kayla Johnson and husband Ken; daughter Tamra Portenier and husband Kent; granddaughter Darah Bohl, husband Taylar, and great-granddaughter Maevery Kay Bohl.

Private family services will be held with burial in the Buffalo View Cemetery located on the family farm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kensington Community Library c/o Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, PO Box 563, Phillipsburg, KS 67661.