Denis Lee Melton

Denis Lee Melton, 87, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on May 28, 2026.

A Funeral Service will be held 2:00p.m. Monday, June 1, 2026 at South Lawn Baptist Church, 4306 S Washington St, Amarillo, TX 79110 with Pastor Ron Boyer officiating. The family will be accepting friends from 2:00p.m. - 4:00p.m., Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Cox-Rowley Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive. 

Denis Lee Melton was born on October 30,1938 to Robert Neal Melton and Margaret Mars Melton in Hereford, TX. His family lived in Tulia and various other places throughout his young childhood and eventually settled in Amarillo, after the war. He graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1957 and married Shirley Bray on April 5, 1958, she was the love of his life. In 1958 he went to serve in the United States Navy as a "Sea Bee", which is a construction battalion. He was honorably discharged in early 1960 and Denis and Shirley set up their new home close to family here in Amarillo. Together they raised 3 children, Kristy, Robert and Denise. 

Denis worked as a mechanic with Plains Chevrolet during their early marriage and later worked for all three television stations in Amarillo as a camera operator. Denis later went to work at Pantex, first as a computer programmer and later as Head of Photography. Denis loved photography and he and Shirley decided to open their own photography business which they named, High Plains Photography. They loved photographing weddings as well as all the engagement photos, even doing videos of each couple's love story. Denis and Shirley always operated as a team. He took the photographs and she set up the shots. They owned a storefront downtown for a time called The Wedding Salon. They photographed many many beautiful weddings and met so many lovely couples. 

Denis also loved music and spent 25 years as a church music director at First Baptist Church in White Deer, Fairlanes Baptist Church in Borger and at South Lawn Baptist Church here in Amarillo, later running the technical side of the music for South Lawn until his health recently wouldn't allow him to. Denis was a member of the Rotary Club in Borger and enjoyed playing poker (for fun) both online and with various friend groups in Amarillo. Denis was a blood donor and was honored by Coffee Memorial for giving approximately 46 gallons of blood and platelets. Denis spent his retirement years loving on his grandchildren Bryn, Lara, Holly, Nicholas, Brianna, Ryan and Tessa. They shared trips to the library and fun snacks every Friday. He would load all of them into his van (lovingly referred to as "the Swann") and off they would go. Later he doted on his 6 great grandchildren too. Denis was a loyal friend, family man, and church member. He will be missed by so many and we as his family are grateful for all the love that has been poured out on us throughout his wonderful life. 

Denis is survived by his wife Shirley, his 3 children, Kristy Gadry, and husband David, Robert Melton and his wife Lori. Denise Trevino and her husband Steven. 7 grandchildren by birth, 4 by marriage and two by adoption in love. He is also survived by his loving brother Dean Melton and wife Dorothy and a nephew Dr. Shelby Melton and wife Jill, and a cousin, Teresa Kiker of Tulia. Plus several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. 

Memorials can be given to: Mission Amarillo, (providing shoes for Amarillo School children.) Story Bridge or Snack Pak for Kids.