O'DELL, Douglas Melvin (Mel)

Arizona Daily Sun, Flagstaff, Arizona, Sunday, January 18, 2015 Douglas Melvin O'Dell, known as “Mel” Born on June 21st, 1930, was reunited with his Heavenly Father, beloved wife Shirley and other deceased loved ones on January 9th, 2015. Mel was a lifelong resident of Arizona and was proud to have been born and raised in the small town of Duncan, AZ. Mel was an all-around athlete who excelled in many sports and received a full basketball scholarship to ASU upon graduating from high school in 1949. While working for El Paso Natural Gas, Mel was drafted into the Korean War and played sports for the army while he was stationed in Germany. Mel met his sweetheart, Shirley, during a leave to visit his family and they married in 1954. Mel continued his career as an electrician with EPNG for over 35 years. They lived in Wilcox for a short while, then Flagstaff, before moving to Tucson in 1985. Mel was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed time with his wife and in the Arizona mountains fishing and hunting. He and Shirley were happily married for 56 years with good friends calling theirs a “great love story”. He had an amazing memory and loved telling stories about his experiences and of the many people he knew. He is loved and will be missed deeply. Mel is preceded in death by his brother Jacky, sister Cathryn, father Douglas, and mother Nettie. He is survived by his brother Robert and sister Donna. A viewing will be held on Friday, January 23rd from 6:00–8:00pm at Bring's Broadway Chapel, 6910 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 24th at 10:30am (viewing from 9:30–10:15am) at the LDS Hidden Valley Ward Chapel, 6150 E. Fairmount, Tucson. The burial service will be the same day at 3:00pm at the Duncan AZ Cemetery.