Melva Loveday Buckner, 86, of the Goodsprings Community since 1948 and a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.

She was a member of Goodsprings Baptist Church for over 70 years and had served in various capacities, which included being church clerk for 40 years. She attended Goodsprings School and Etowah High School and was a member of the graduating class of 1955. Melva was employed by Bowater Southern Paper Corp. for over 37 years.

Preceded in death by her husband, Erle Wayne Buckner; parents, Hubert and Eula Loveday; twin brothers, Oran and Olan Loveday; sister-in-law, Margaret Biggs Loveday; brothers and sisters-in-law, Eddie and Luzia Buckner, Leo and Linda Smith.

Survivors include her brother, Curtis Loveday; nephew and wife, Terry and Jenna Loveday; great-nephew, Ethan Loveday; step-son and wife, Jeffrey and Trish Buckner; step-grandson, Brandon Buckner; special friends, Edwin and Wanda Pettitt, Harold and Rosie Buckner, Nathaniel Driver, Ben and Leah Peterson and their children; many other special friends and neighbors who proved to be friends indeed.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, December 8, 2023 in the chapel of Bordwine Funeral Home with Rev. Chris Connell officiating.

The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., Friday prior to the service.

Interment will follow the service in Goodsprings Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to Goodsprings Cemetery, P.O. Box 480, Etowah, TN 37331.