Melvin O. Heath

Melvin O. Heath, 93, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 at his home in Boise, Idaho.

Melvin was born Sept. 2, 1924 in Libby to George W. Heath and Blanche Skinner Heath. He was raised in Libby where he attended grades 1-12 and graduated in 1942. Melvin loved to play baseball, hike, hunt and fish in the forests around Libby. In June of 1943, he was drafted into the Army and served in the European Theater from 1944 to 1945 with the 126th Artillery Battalion.

Melvin met Margaret Noel in January of 1946 shortly after he returned from World War II. Margaret worked in a dental office in Libby and Melvin came in to have a filling repaired. Shortly thereafter, he invited her to the movies and it was love at first date. They were engaged by Easter and married on July 14, 1946. They were married 63 years.

Melvin attended college at the University of Montana and he graduated in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in forestry. Melvin worked for J. Neils Co. and St. Regis Co. in Libby. In addition, he worked for Potlatch Corp. in Lewiston, Idaho, and for the City of Kennewick in Kennewick, Washington. Mel and Margaret enjoyed spending later years traveling to the west coast camping in their fifth wheel trailer.

Mel and Margaret moved to Boise, Iadho in 2004 to be near family. Melvin is a member of the Christ Presbyterian Church there.

Melvin was preceded in death by his loving wife Margaret and his sister, Marjorie Heath Nolan. He is survived by his brother Gary Heath and his wife Pat of Grand Junction, Colorado; his son Mark Heath and his wife Betty of Boise; and his three daughters: Kathleen and her husband Robert Wood of Lakewood Ranch, Florida; Gwen and her husband Dick Lorentz of Clarkston, Washington; and Sherri Truxal of Meridian, Idaho.

His grandchildren include: Deanna and her husband Kirk Felton of Blacksburg, Virginia; Jason and his wife Kathy Wood of Coronado, California; Jaime and her husband Paul McCarthy of Lewiston, Idaho; Stevie and her husband Jack Hompland of Azusa, California; Jared Truxal of Meridian, Idaho; and Jeff Heath of Boise. Melvin also has seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice in the memory of Melvin. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.cloverdalefuneralhome.com

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 N. Cloverdale Road, Boise, Idaho. In celebration of his life, a reception will be held at the Cloverdale Funeral Home Reception Hall following the graveside service.