Melvin D. Barley
May 31, 1939 ~ Feb. 7, 2018
In 1957 Mel enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served as a mechanic at Mountain Home, Idaho, and later deployed to Guam. On April 17, 1960, he married the love of his life, JoAnne Dunham. Four children were born to this union. The couple made their home for a brief time in LaSalle, Utah, where he worked in the uranium mines. Returning to Colorado they made their home in Meeker where he worked as a heavy equipment operator for the County Road and Bridge for 13 years, then for West Gas (now Excel Energy) until his retirement in 1993.
Mel loved his family, and was particularly fond of his grandchildren who affectionately knew him as “Pappa.” He spent many a day with them camping, hunting, fishing or just tinkering and taught them all the value of hard work and integrity. An advocate for gun safety, he volunteered for many years as a leader in the 4-H Shooting Sports club, he was a member of the Meeker Sportsmans Club and always looked forward to the Hunter Sight-In Days when they sold raffle tickets to raise money for the club, it was said, “he could sell ice to the Eskimos,” he also helped with the Boy Scouts. Never knowing a stranger, Mel often had a joke or story to share, always lending a helping hand whenever needed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son Stephan Barley and sister Lois Herr. Survivors include his wife JoAnne; sisters Christine Bauder and Myrah Fournier of Grand Junction; children Lisa (Mike) Cook, Daniel Barley and Rebecca Gullion of Meeker; 12 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews and cousins all who will remember him for his fun loving good nature.
Memorial services are planned for later this summer. Memorial contributions may be made to the Meeker Sportsmans Club or HopeWest in care of Grant Mortuary, Craig, Colo.
