Melvin Thomas Warner

Melvin Thomas Warner was born to Earvin and Buena Warner in Sayre, Oklahoma on June 17, 1931, and lived there until he was 13 years old. Then his parents moved to Yakima, Washington with Mel and his brother Troyce.

Mel became a member of the First Baptist Church in 1947, coming in by letter. Mel’s parents were Southern Baptists and he had been baptized in a lake in Carter, Oklahoma. When they came to Yakima First Baptist, they thought it was a Southern Baptist, but liked it so well they decided to become members. Mel’s wish for First Baptist Church was to build up the youth department.

Mel attended Washington Junior High, Yakima High, Yakima Junior College and Linfield College. At Linfield, he majored in business administration and minored in music. He was active in choir and men’s quartets in every school he attended, and was a member of the traveling quartet at Linfield. Mel sang in duets, quartets, and many solos.

Mel worked at The Boeing Company for 20 years, and returned to Yakima in 1975 to help his father, because his mother had become ill. He worked at Libby’s for 10 years and then went into the rental and building business with his father. Mel enjoyed music, hunting, fishing, the outdoors, photography and reading.

Mel passed away on September 19, 2014 in Good Samaritan Health Care Center. Mel is survived by his brother Troyce Warner, and three nephews; Brent Warner, Gregg Warner and Trace Warner, all living in Olympia, Washington. Mel also has two grand nephews, four grand nieces, and one great grand niece.

Funeral services for Mel will be held Saturday October 4, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Rainier Memorial Center (formerly Keith & Keith Terrace Heights Chapel, 2807 Terrace Heights Dr., Yakima) with burial to follow at Terrace Heights Memorial Park.

To share a memory of Mel, visit www.keithandkeith.com.