Melvin Ray Hashbarger passed away at his home in Sasakwa, Oklahoma on Sunday morning, January 19, 2020, at the age of 72 years.

Melvin was the son of Melvin Eugene 'Gene' Hashbarger & Wilma B. (Manningly) Hashbarger, born on June 17, 1947, in Yale, Oklahoma. He was brought up and attended schools in Hominy and graduated Hominy High School with the Class of 1966. He served with the U.S. Army for two years in Vietnam, and returned to Hominy before moving to Okmulgee to attend OSU Tech. He earned an Associates Degree in Automotive Engineering, and took every opportunity to continue his education in the automotive industry with courses and credits in air conditioning and electronics. He returned again to Hominy and was employed there by various auto dealerships.

Melvin married Connie McFee on May 14, 1977, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where they lived for many years. Melvin worked for Johnson's Auto Dealership and also operated his own business, Melvin's Auto Service. He moved his family to Horntown in 1991 and worked for John Gibbs Motor Company in Holdenville, Ada Ford Company in Ada, and Perry Ford Company in Holdenville, before retiring in 2006. They moved to Sasakwa in 2014, where Melvin enjoyed being outdoors hunting, fishing, boating and tubing. He was an avid sports fan, particularly of the Dallas Cowboys, OU Sooners, St. Louis Cardinals, and Oklahoma City Thunder. He was a scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts and helped organize car races in regional and national meetings. He was continually interested in all things automotive. He enjoyed tinkering with any kind of car, and he loved repairing and fixing up old muscle cars. His family was his greatest joy.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Gene & Wilma Hashbarger.

He is survived by his wife, Connie, of the home; three children: Shelley Heine of Castle Rock CO, Kevin Hashbarger (Chrissy) of Sasakwa, Gennie Scroggins of Sasakwa; eight grandchildren: Brandon, Madison, Ethan, Abigail, Lillian, Lauren, Maggie, and Sawyer; one great grandson on the way; one brother, Jim Hashbarger of Fayetteville AR; nieces, nephews, cousins, other family members, and many friends.

Memorial services were held on Friday, January 24, 2020, 3:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Sasakwa, with Rev. Gary Choate officiating. Friends joined the family for dinner at the church at 1:30 p.m.