Melda Lea Kelley Roberts of Caldwell, Idaho died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at her daughter’s home in Caldwell, Idaho. She was 61.

Graveside services were held Sept. 18, 2007, at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Caldwell, Idaho. Services were under the direction of Dakan Funeral Chapel, Caldwell, Idaho.

Mrs. Roberts was born on Dec. 11, 1945, in Prairie City to Melville Derrick Kelley and Clarice Bates Kelley. She was proud of the Oregon valley, where she was born and raised, and loved growing up on the ranch in Prairie City. Her father sold and traded horses for a living.

Mrs. Roberts was the oldest of six children. She graduated from Prairie City High School in 1964, where she was senior class president. The family then moved to Railroad Street in Nampa, Idaho.

Mrs. Roberts met the love of her life, Dale Roberts, at a rodeo, and they were married April 13, 1968. They settled on Homedale Road in Caldwell and lived there for 39 years. Their oldest daughter Shawna was born in 1971 and their youngest daughter Nikki was born in 1980.

Mrs. Roberts spent many years as a rodeo queen, showing horses at various places for her father and rodeoing. She was involved with the Idaho Girls Rodeo Association (IGRA) for many, many years, serving in various capacities and was a Gold Card Member. She also served on the Vale 4th of July Rodeo Board in Vale. In 1976, she became involved with the Caldwell Night Rodeo Queen Contest. In 1983, she was voted in as a member of the Caldwell Night Rodeo Board. She was proud of the fact that she served as their first female president (twice). She served on the CNR Board until health reasons forced her to move to the Honorary Board in 2006.

Mrs. Roberts is survived by her daughter, Shawna, and her husband, Drew Pennington, and their two children, Alex and Halle; daughter, Nikki, and her husband, KC Zachary, all of Caldwell, Idaho; two brothers, Dennis and his wife, Kitty Kelley, of Greenleaf; Jim and his wife, Bonnie Kelley of Princeton; three sisters, Patricia, and her husband, Dave Basey; and Tammy, and her husband, Nick Oliver, of Caldwell, Idaho; and Shirley and her husband, Kim Boone, of Bend; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Dale Roberts; her father, Mel Kelley; and her mother Clarice Kelley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dale and Melda Roberts Horsemanship Award in care of the Caldwell Night Rodeo.