Melvin Ray Bunn “Mel” By Joan Bielby - R.I.P Mel Melvin “Mel” Ray Bunn Sr. was born Feb 17, 1940 in Rifle, Colorado to Henry (Red) F. Bunn Jr. and Silvia May (Adams) Bunn, the oldest of 13 children. Mel stayed in school into the 5th grade. He enjoyed life even though times were tough, until Colorado State stepped in and took Mel along with 5 of his siblings away from their parents and put them in an orphanage. Four of the other siblings were adopted by different families. Mel was put in foster homes that just wanted a cheap hired hand, and he kept running away from the foster homes and the orphanage, he just wanted to be back with his Mom and dad. He finally did win his battle because the state finally gave up on taking Mel back to the orphanage, when he was 14 years old and let him be with his parents. Dale was returned to his parents when he was 12 years old. Mel started becoming a trader at a young age. Much to his mother’s dismay at times when she would find saddles and such in her wash tub that he was working on, trying to clean up or repair so he could trade it for something else or some more horse tack. As a young man Mel worked for local ranchers in Garfield County, in Mesa County, along Divide Creek, New Castle and Silt. He traded horses and horse tack along with working for ranches and dude ranches. Mel met Beverly Martin in Rifle, CO and they became a couple. Mel and Beverly had 6 children as a result of this union. Mel adored and loved his children, trying to teach them the right way to live their lives. It was during this time Mel would ride saddle bronc in local rodeos and rodeos around the state. He loved the rodeo life and competing, but he was a responsible family man and worked hard trying to provide for his family first and still be able to do his thing at the rodeo. He became a production manager for Goodyear Tire Company and put the company into the black in a short while, with his great head for business. His 3 oldest children were pretty much grown with a special person in their own lives; in fact his oldest child was already married when Mel & Beverly parted ways in the fall of 1976 and he went to work for a dude ranch on Grand Mesa. He often told me about his children with a great deal of pride and how much he loved them with tears running down his cheeks for what might have been and worrying about how they were doing. In the late 1977’s he met Laurie Janes while he was working at a dude ranch on Grand Mesa and they set off traveling down the road, along the way becoming vendors at flea markets. Once he traveled from Coast to Coast with Laurie Janes, to visit with Laurie’s family, doing flea markets all the way there and back. He was always so proud of this trip, boasting that they not only paid all the expenses of the trip along the way, but also made a good profit to boot. On the way back to Oregon, they stopped in West Virginia, where Laurie’s sister lived, to await the birth of their first son, Justin Bunn. When they moved from W. Virginia back to Oregon, Mel became really active in horse trading, tack trading again, all while still doing flea markets selling anything from soup to nuts at the flea markets around Oregon and California. He had a good eye for picking out things that customers would buy, antiques, horse tack, yarns, glassware, tool handles: often times stuff people just couldn’t quite fathom how this ‘cowboy in his cowboy hat’ could even know about, let alone understand. He was constantly aware and making things happen. Mel was a member of the Southeastern Oregon Paint Horse Club for many years, donating prizes trying to help create and promote interest in the cattle classes at the local Paint Horse Show. Mel was an avid Rodeo fan; as a young man he was a participant in Saddle Bronc riding and in later years was an avid spectator; he could give you all the current rodeo stats, right up to his final days. Mel loved to listen to his son, Roger play his guitar and sing Mel’s favorite country songs. Mel also got great joy out of watching and playing with little kids, and was so pleased being able to interact with his own grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mel is fondly remembered by his family and friends as a fun loving person and for the stories he would tell, whether truth or not, to him they were: at any rate they were always very entertaining, enlightening and good to listen to. Mel has always been intrigued with horse tack and became a walking encyclopedia of information on saddle and bit makers; when they were in business, when they quit their business or another company bought them out. A wealth of information is gone with Mel that a person will probably never find in any books. On April 06, 2014, Mel, lost the battle with diabetes related illnesses in Provo, Utah surrounded by his children, receiving peace and comfort in knowing they were all there, that could be. Cindy Kipp was not able to be there in person, but kept constant contact via telephone, so was there in the spirit along with her siblings. Predeceased by: Son – Melvin Ray Bunn Jr; Brothers Charlie Sanderson, Doug Crocker, Dale D. Bunn & Dale’s twin Dean Lee Bunn; Mother – Silvia May (Adams) Bunn and Father – Henry (Red) F. Bunn. Surviving loved ones: Children – Roger & Kim Bunn, Debbie & Jeff Griffith, Pat (Jodi) & Carl Sandersen, Cindy Kipp, Justin & Sara Bunn, Tyler Bunn, and Sharon & DJ Barker: Twin Brothers Mark & Mike Bunn, Bob Bunn: Sisters Renelda Batson, Darlene Burris, Alice Stroud, Barbara Bergman and Darla Poteet. Numerous nieces and nephews; 16 Grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren with 2 more expected soon. Mel especially treasured the visits from his grandchildren and great grandchildren and getting to know them better. He enjoyed them all tremendously! Special friends to Mel were Joan Bielby, Jeanine, John & Jared and Carla Seal. Mel was like a ‘big brother’ to Joan and a favorite ‘Uncle’ to her children. They met in Oregon, about 1978 and remained friends throughout life’s many ups and downs. Often doing business deals together, played together, enjoyed picnics, BBQ’s and just was there for each other as the needs arose. They were like most families they had their differences; they had their special times, spent many Holidays together and looked out for each other. Then as Joan and her children met more of Mel’s family, the whole family unit expanded to include the rest of Mel’s family as personal family too. Mel also cherished and held dear, his visits from Carla Seal and her family at the nursing home. Please could we take just 8 seconds and give this cowboy his last ride! He rode his life right to the whistle!
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 01:22:05 +0000
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