Melvin Elijah Fletcher, 85, a resident of Nampa and formerly of Fairfield, passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2022 at his home in Nampa.
Melvin was born on December 5, 1936 in Shoshone, Idaho, the son of Worth E. Fletcher and Cleatis (Bundy) Fletcher. Mel was the youngest of four children.
He attended school in Shoshone until the 10th grade and earned an Eagle Scout rank at that time.
The family moved to Kimberly, Idaho where he later graduated.
He married Geraldine Phillips, April 9, 1955, they have four daughters.
Mel attended the University of Idaho and the University of Washington studying mechanical engineering.
He worked at Boeing Aircraft Engineering Department in Seattle, Washington and later engineering at Hyster Fork-Lift Company in Portland, Oregon.
The family returned to Idaho where he worked at Opal Harvester Potato Equipment Mfg. in Boise for a time.
He served on church boards, school boards and also was a founding member of Braunvich Cattle Association and raised Braunvichs for several years. Besides farming he was owner and founder of Fire Fighters, Inc., a fire sprinkler company. Later he became the plan review and job inspector for the Idaho State Fire Marshalls Office in Boise.
In recent years he helped found the Bundy Youth Ranch/Intermountain Christian Camp on his grandparent’s homestead, north of Fairfield on Soldier Creek. Private donations and volunteer workers built a large lodge with recreation, meeting rooms, kitchen and sleeping quarters. Six cabins were built for kid’s camps and other groups that come for retreats.
Mel sculpted a large rock with local cattle owner’s brands and installed it in front of the Camas Senior Center in Fairfield.
Retiring in 2017 Mel and Geraldine moved to Nampa after 40 years on the ranch.
He is survived by: his wife of 66.999 years – Geraldine; four daughters – Teressa (Brad) Stewart, Genene (Gennie) Fishburn, Cherol (Pat) McMonigle and Vicki Fletcher; eight grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren; and his sister - Eula Laber of Seattle. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister Barbara Prock and a brother LeRoy Fletcher.
Mel was a Christian looking forward to being with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He set an example of Faith in God for all his family.
Dad was a loving, caring, funny person. He loved practical jokes and pranks as often as possible.
Mel enjoyed meeting for coffee with his “gun” buddies while still living in Fairfield.
He had also been a member of Gideons International, professional men who distribute Bibles to hotel rooms and in the past to school children.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 11:00 am at the Fairfield Community Church in Fairfield. Burial will follow at the Mountain View Cemetery north of Fairfield.
Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service - Gooding Chapel.
Any memorial contributions and or donations may be made to
Intermountain Christian Camp in Fairfield, Idaho.
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