Gary Melton, age 48,passed away on Dec. 8, 2002, at the University of Utah Hospital after a valiant and courageous battle with leukemia.

He was born Sept. 17; 1954,in Clarksdale, Mississippi to Charlie Melton and Lillian Logan Poulsen. He married Sharon Doman on Oct. 4, 1975, in Montpelier, Idaho. Together they raised four great children, Nathan, Elko, Nev., Mandi Cole, Nampa, Idaho, Terance (TJ) Elko, NV., with Jesi, attending college in Reno, Nevada.

He graduated from Bear Lake High School in Montpelier in 1975 and served in the U.S. Navy until 1979. He was also in the Utah National Guard for about three years. He was a mechanic for 25 years and worked at various places in Montpelier, Smithfield, Kelso, Wash., and Elko Nev. He had worked at TYCO in Logan for the past one and a half years.

His door was always open for any lost souls that needed a place to stay, and he was more than willing to troubleshoot any mechanical problems that friends or family ever had. He had a knack for listening to your deepest sorrows and had a ready smile for a close friend. We will miss his crooked smile and beautiful brown eyes.

He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren (Madison and Brooklyn Cole and Cynder Melton). He is also survived by his father; mother Lillian and stepfather Darryl Poulsen; stepfather Frank Castillo; four brothers, Chris Melton, Frank Castillo, Butch Poulsen, Kelly Poulsen; six sisters, Cindy Bailey, Cathy Loe, Kaye Warner, Darla Sommerfeld, Sherry Takai, Puanani Kalawa; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his baby brother Tim.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2002, at 2 p.m. in the Logan River 2nd Ward Chapel, 340 W. 700 South, Logan, with a viewing one hour prior to services. Interment will be in the Logan City Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Allen-Hall Mortuary.