Melvin L Scott

March 23, 1929 - August 2, 2015

Melvin Lloyd Scott, age 86, of Grand Junction died at the Courtyard Care Center in Fruita on August 2, 2015. Mel died of heart failure, following a heart attack a few months earlier. He has been cremated, in accordance with his wishes.

Mel was born to Clarence Elvie Scott and Mary Pearl (Lloyd) Scott on March 23, 1929, in Dalhart, Texas. Mel's sister, Mary Ida (Scott) Bray, was born in 1925 and his brother, Clarence "Jack" Alvie Scott, was born in 1926. The family lived in Dalhart, TX, and Guymon, OK, before moving to Grand Junction in 1937. Mel graduated from Fruitvale High School in 1946 and graduated with an Associate's Degree from Mesa Junior College (the predecessor of Colorado Mesa University) in 1948.

The college education benefits offered by the Navy recruiter convinced Mel to enlist for four years. Mel reported to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, FL, in July of 1948 for basic training and flight training. Mel was commissioned as a naval aviator in 1950, and was assigned to an aircraft carrier for four years in the Pacific. Mel was able to return to the University of Colorado in Boulder in 1956 and complete a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Physics in 1958 and was admitted to the Physics honorary society, Sigma Pi Sigma. The Navy made it possible for Mel to complete his college education and gave him a career that he enjoyed, as well.

Mel's Navy career included the following assignments: flight instructor at Whiting Field in North Island, CA; flying the Pacific Barrier patrolling for Soviet aircraft; physics and sailing instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD; patrolling for Soviet nuclear submarines off Newfoundland; and Operations Manager at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. In the first 20 years of Mel's Naval career, he made 130 carrier landings, flew over 4,000 hours in fixed-wing aircraft, completed six graduate hours in Nuclear Physics and Advanced Calculus at Annapolis, married, and had four children with his wife Roseann (Joyce) Scott.

Mel's final posting was in Albuquerque, NM, from 1967 to 1974, working for the Defense Nuclear Agency. Mel retired in 1974 as the Chief of Nuclear Weapons Effects Tests, and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his contributions. By the end of Mel's 28-year Naval career, he had the rank of Commander and was a registered Professional Engineer in New Mexico and Colorado.

After retirement, Mel worked as a civil engineer for two years in Albuquerque, NM. He wanted to return permanently to Grand Junction, and applied for an engineering position with Bendix Field Engineering. He worked for Bendix Field Engineering and its successor, RUST GeoTech, for ten years. At retirement, he was the Manager of Procurement.

Mel was married to his first wife for 24 years and to his second, Donna (Mourey) Scott, for 37 years. He is survived by his wife, Donna. His four children and their spouses also survive him, Jeffry Alan Scott and Debra Kalin, Seattle, WA; Melissa Joyce (Scott) and Christopher Johnson, Boulder, CO; Melinda Jane Scott, Grand Junction, and Jonathan Peter Scott, Grand Junction. Tucker Johnson and MacKenna Johnson, Boulder, CO, Mel's grandchildren, survive him, as does his brother, Clarence "Jack" Scott and wife, Lena Mae Scott, Grand Junction. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Mel was predeceased by his parents and by his sister, Mary Ida (Scott) Bray, who died in San Antonio, TX, on July 28, 2015.

A memorial service for Mel will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at Martin Mortuary, 550 North Ave., Grand Junction. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Contributions may be made to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (www.michaeljfox.org), in lieu of flowers.

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