Nehme Saliba, 79, of Parsons died at 10:04 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin. His death was unexpected.

He was born March 18, 1931, at Riit, Lebanon, to Najib and Mary (Okais) Saliba. He grew up in Lebanon and received his education there. In 1963 he came to the United States and in 1971 he became an American citizen.

In 1964, he married Dana Jane (Richmond) Saliba, who was the widow of his brother, Sami N. Saliba.

Nehme was well known and well loved by family and friends. He was a business entrepreneur and owned and operated Saliba’s Antiques and Imports and dealt in rental properties. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, where he had served as a deacon. He had been named to Who’s Who in Kansas. He had many interests, including cooking, gardening and fishing. Before he lost his sight he was an expert marksman and hunter and wood craftsman. He loved to share his baklava and tabbouleh with friends. He had been a member of the Optimist Club and was a member of the Kiwanis Club and was famous for his great number of pancake ticket sales.

He loved to play backgammon and especially loved April Fool’s Day and playing jokes on friends. He didn’t know a stranger and everyone who met Nehme loved him. He was instrumental in the renovation of the Prairie West Pond. He enjoyed helping his wife with the large musical productions. He was always ready to help anyone, anytime. He greatly loved his family and adored his grandchildren. He was an amazing caregiver for them, playing with them, cooking for them and teaching them many wonderful things.

Survivors include his wife, Dana Jane Saliba, of the home; four sons and daughters-in-law, Fareed and Vicki Saliba of Granbury, Texas, Romney and Connie Saliba of Douglass, Ethan and Susan Saliba of Charlottsville, Va., and Darren and Becky Saliba of Broken Arrow, Okla.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Clela and Kurt Friess of Parsons and Dana Lynn and Kirby Ham of Olathe; 16 grandchildren, Aaron Saliba, Hannah Hernandez, Miriam Saliba, Jayson Saliba, Amber Saliba, Sami Saliba, Meghan Saliba, Morghan Saliba, Madison Saliba, Gage Friess, Gracen Friess, Gannon Friess, Mikayla Ham, Kassidy Ham, Nathaniel Nehme “Nate” Ham and Eva Kay Ham; two sisters, Wadad Indeluft and Nuha Freije, both of Lebanon; two nephews and three nieces, all living in Lebanon, Barakat Freije, Tony Indeluft, Souad Freije, Samar Freije and Zeina Teeney.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Sami Saliba, in 1960.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.

Memorials are suggested to the First Presbyterian Church. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.