Cecil Martin Mellard

Cecil Martin Mellard was born July 22nd, 1943 and passed away December 2, 2013. He was the son of Armour Verchal Mellard and Marye Kritzer Mellard. After graduating from Tuloso Midway High School, he attended Del Mar Technical Institute. He worked as a senior plumbing designer 40 years in consulting engineering, having last worked for Wylie & Associates before his retirement in 2009.

Martin, by chance, met Mary Ellen Murchie through an old family friend of Mary’s that had married his father. They started dating as friends and after a year the friendship blossomed into a romance. After a few short months of engagement they were married on October 9, 1964. They lived in Corpus and moved to Houston in 1965 and have lived in Houston since that time. After 17 years of marriage they received the news they had wanted to hear for so long. They were going to have a baby. Their miracle child was born in May of 1982 and they named her Allison Diane. Their family was then complete. The Mellards had a wonderful life and just recently celebrated 49 years of marriage. Family was important to Martin as was evidenced by the many miles he would travel in and out of state for family functions.

He enjoyed cars and collected miniature cars. He was also a gun collector. History was another interest in his life. Many hours were spent listening to music which he had an interest in since his high school years where he played clarinet in the band. He remained close throughout his life to many of his fellow marching band members. Martin enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Mexico and far away locations such as Singapore and Indonesia. He loved traveling so much that he and Mary didn’t wait until they were married 50 years but chose to celebrate their 50th Anniversary two years early in Hawaii.

He was a member of the Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Houston for 31 years where he had served as an elder. He is predeceased by his mother and father, his father-in-law, John Wilson Murchie; step father-in-law, Jack Davenport, and brother-in-law, Martin Delaney. He is survived by his wife, Mary Mellard; daughter, Allison and her husband Pascal Killingsworth, Jr. of Longview, Texas. He is also survived by his brother, Verchal Mellard and wife Sharon of Crossville, Tennessee; sister, Kathryn Mellard Valdez and husband John of Englewood, Colorado; mother-in-law, Diana Davenport and sister-in-law, Carol Delaney of Houston. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great nephews.

Visitation will be Friday, December 6 from 6 to 8 pm at Earthman Funeral Home. Services will be Saturday, December 7 at Pilgrim Lutheran Church, 8601 Chimney Rock, Houston, Texas 77096. Visitation 10 a.m. and Service 11 a.m. Officiating Pastor William Diekelman. Following the service a reception will be held, followed by the graveside service at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale, section 59, phase 3, Houston, Texas 77023.

Mellard