Gina Rae Stinson, 44, of Hayes Center passed away February 20, 2018 at Perkins Country Community Hospital in Grant, Nebraska after losing her battle with cancer. She was born in McCook, NE on July 4, 1973 to Dixie (Griffiths) and Robert Stinson and lived on a farm near Hayes Center until she was three. The family moved to Palisade in January 1977 where she lived until she graduated from high school. She attended kindergarten through her junior year of high school at Palisade Public School and her senior year at Hayes Center High School. Gina was very talented in all sports, especially basketball and went with her team to the state basketball playoffs in 1988.
After graduating high school in 1991, Gina earned a scholarship to play basketball for Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte. While living in North Platte, Gina went on to marry Jim Melton of Wallace. To this 19-year union, four children were born: Jaime, Katelyn, Jacob and Kyle. Gina and Jim were divorced in 2011 and she did not remarry. Early in their marriage, she and Jim lived in Norfolk, Virginia while Jim was serving in the US Navy. After his enlistment was completed, Jim, Gina and their girls moved back to Nebraska where they lived briefly in Alliance and Wauneta, finally settling north of Hayes Center. After their divorce, Gina and her children lived in Grainton and Wallace before settling in Hayes Center. At the time of her death, Gina owned the Little Blessings Daycare in Hayes Center.
Gina was a member of the Wallace Community Church and she was baptized on August 7, 2016. She loved going to church, spending time at the lake with friends and family, and going to her children’s high school ballgames. She was a very strong woman of great faith who fought bravely against her breast cancer with a positive attitude. She had a wonderful sense of humor and concern for others. She was a great example for us all.
Gina is survived by her daughters, Jaime Melton (Omaha, NE) and Katelyn (Taran) Melton (Wallace, NE); her sons Jacob Melton and Kyle Melton both of Wallace, NE; her sister Lisa Stinson of Weiden, Bavaria-Germany; her brother Blaine (Tessa) Stinson & daughter Annamarie of Palisade, NE; her father Robert (Paula) Stinson of Palisade, NE, her mother Dixie (Kent) Eckhoff of Hayes Center, NE, her stepsister Renee (Bryan) & son Rylan Grayson.
A celebration of Gina’s life is planned for Saturday, February 24 at the Wallace High School gymnasium starting at 10:00 am CST with Pastor Bob Witt officiating. Internment is at the Dickens Cemetery in Dickens, NE with a reception to follow at the Wallace High School. Online condolences may be shared at www.carpentermemorial.com Gina’s casket will not be open and there will be no visitation.
Carpenter Funeral Home in North Platte is in care of arrangements.