Willie Melvin Tallent, 90, of Jackson, died Friday, Oct. 19, 1996, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 18, 1906, son of the late Henry A. and Jane Jones Tallent. He married Opal Niswonger on Nov. 1, 1939.

Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Mary Hill of Lawson, Margaret Morgan of Scopus and Martha Garrett of Paducah, Ky.; five grandchildren; one step-grandchild; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by six brothers and four sisters.

Tallent was a member of the First Baptist Church of Jackson where he served as a deacon and taught a Sunday School class for many years.

He was a rural mail carrier and later worked for Elfrink & Bretz Building Contractors, Kimbel Truck Lines and Cracraft Furniture Store and Funeral Service from 1965 until retirement.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Cracraft-Miller Funeral Home.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. Kevin Roberts will officiate with burial to be at Cook Cemetery at Scopus.