Melvin Jay Brown

Our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Melvin Jay Brown, passed away peacefully at home on September 11 surrounded by his family.

Grandpa Mel was born on Jan. 24, 1923 to John Martin and Mary Jane Christensen Brown in Roy, Utah, where he grew up and attended high school. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army Air Corp during World War II, spending much of the war stationed in the Aleutian Islands, where he maintained and loaded bombs onto B52 bombers. Grandpa married his sweetheart, Dolores Hardman, on Sept. 14, 1949. He built their family home in Salt Lake City where they raised their family ----- the very home where he passed away late Thursday morning.

Mel had many passions in life. He loved motorcycles, grandma, airplanes, grandma, boating and camping with his family, music, his harmonica, a good joke, and grandma. While he worked hard for over forty years as a barber and as a property manager for Zions Securities Corporation, he played just as hard. He loved to tinker in his shop on his motorcycles, boat, truck, and even his airplane. It wasn't unusual for music to be coming from his shop in the garage, where dad could often be found whistling hymns while he tinkered. Did we mention that he loved grandma?

Of his many passions, Mel 's greatest joy was his family. Besides grandma, he loved spending time with his three children and seven grandchildren. He used to joke that he had one daughter, one son, and one other child. We're not sure which of his daughters was the "other child." He was always a prankster, but it's difficult to imagine a more patient, loving, or wise man. Among the many lessons he taught his children was the value of service. He was a life-long and devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Over the decades, he held numerous callings and provided help and support to too many neighbors, friends, and family members to count. It's no exaggeration to suggest grandpa touched the lives of hundreds and changed us for the better. What an exemplary role-model. We will do more than remember him --- we will be forever changed because we knew him.

Mel is survived by Dolores, his sweetheart and wife of sixty-five years; his children Sherrie Robertson, Linda Brown-trudel, MD (Ron Trudel, MD), and Jay (Wendy) Brown; his grandchildren Jayme (Mark) Richardson, Bryan Robertson, Curtis Brown, Davis Rasmussen, Hayden Brown, Tanner Trudel, and Madison Trudel; and his sisters Joyce Heinecke and Gladys Westenskow. He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Paul, Virgil, and Keith; sisters Alba, Orpha, and Maxine; and grandson Hunter Trudel.

The family wishes to extend a sincere thanks to Larry at Harmony Home Health, Dr. Trudel and the nurses and caregivers at Pine Mountain Hospice for their devoted care in dad's last days.

A viewing will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at Holbrook Mortuary, 3251 South 2300 East, followed by a graveside service at Mountain View Memorial Estates, 3115 East Bengal Blvd. (7800 So). For full obituary and to leave condolences for the family please visit: www.HolbrookMortuary.com