Mel Hooten

Melvin Richard Hooten, known as “Mel” or “Pastor Mel,” was born on April 28, 1942, to Doyle and Ethel Hooten of Tulia, Texas. He went to be with our Lord on October 29, 2026.

Mel is survived by his wife of 34 years, Karen Lemon Hooten; his brother, Donald B. Hooten, and wife, Barbara, of Amarillo; and three children from a prior marriage: Timothy Allan Hooten and wife, Linda, of Mannford, Oklahoma; Michael Scott Hooten and wife, Debi, of San Angelo, Texas; and Sandra Kay Hooten of Westminster, Colorado. Also surviving Mel are Karen’s children, whom he considered his own: Charles Gabriel Ruff of Lubbock, Texas; Amy Estelle Eaton and husband, John, of Aubrey, Texas; and Sarah Elizabeth Clymer and husband, Daniel, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Known as “PaPa,” Mel is survived by 10 grandchildren: Chelsea, Brandon, Bailey, Kailey, Cayden, Harper, Abigail, Preston, Lyv, and Layne; and one great-granddaughter, Abigail. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Emma Cate. Mel is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.

Pastor Mel graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Wayland Baptist University and received a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served in ministry for over 60 years in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Iowa, with missions to Mexico, Brazil, and Korea.

More recently, he was the founding pastor of Cowboy Church of Tarrant County in Haslet, Texas. He was a member of Southmont Baptist Church in Denton, where he taught Sunday school. Pastor Mel authored several Christian books, including a paraphrase of the Gospel of John in cowboy language.

Visitation will be held at DeBerry Family Center, 2020 Emory Street, in Denton, Texas, on Friday, November 6, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Southmont Baptist Church on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a graveside service and burial at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton, Texas.

Flowers are welcomed by the family. Those who wish may also make a memorial donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, or The Salvation Army, in Mel’s memory.