Melba Annette Slaven, age 68, of Muncie, passed away Friday, January 17, 2020. She was born November 9, 1951 in Charlotte, North Carolina and was raised all of her life in Muncie.

Melba loved to garden, both flowers and food. The landscaping that she created was a place of beauty and the food from the garden was canned or frozen to be used in cooking. Melba was a gifted cook and baker. Her friends and family always looked forward to the dishes she would bring to share. She was adventurous and never shied away from trying something new while on her many travels. Her love for animals was all encompassing from the stray cats to the birds in the trees - she loved and fed them all! Her great gift was her unconditional love. She opened her heart and her home to many strays, human and animal, for comfort and acceptance.

Melba is survived by a daughter, Melena A. Slaven; her sisters, Jesse Yvonne Mangus (Bob), Dianne Evans, Terri Segotta (Neil). She was loved by many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Zona L. Ferguson; a sister, Judy K. Cruea; her brothers, Clifton "Joe" Ferguson and Kevin Ferguson.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, January 23, 2020 at Garden View Funeral Home with Pastor Denny Helton officiating with burial following in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., until service time. Memorial contributions may be made to Melena A. Slaven. On-line condolences may be made to www.gardenviewfuneralhome.com