Dr. Don Ray Melling

BURLEY – Don Ray Melling, age 80, of Burley, passed away Aug. 4, 2015, at his home, surrounded by family.

Don was born March 8, 1935, in Cedar City, Utah, to Lucy Genevieve Dover and Joseph Raymond Melling. He was the youngest of three children. As a child, Don spent every summer at the Melling Ranch on Cedar Mountain. These childhood experiences began his lifelong love for horses, cows, and the outdoors. He cried every fall when he had to come home to start school. Don was an outstanding athlete at Cedar High School and College of Southern Utah (now SUU) where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He served a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Southwest Indian Mission where he served and loved the Navajo and Hopi people. He accepted an extension to his two-year mission at the request of his mission president.

After his mission, Don transferred to Utah State University where he majored in Biology and also received his masters degree in education administration. While Don loved to fish, his greatest catch was Ruth Olsen, whom he met and married while attending USU. They were married Aug. 5, 1960, in the Logan Utah LDS Temple. They moved to Boulder City, Nev., where they both taught school. After the arrival of three children and teaching and coaching for seven years, Don decided to go back to school to become a dentist. Don and Ruth moved to Iowa City where he attended the University of Iowa Dental School, graduating in 1972. He then brought his family to Burley, Idaho, and started his dental practice. He practiced dentistry for 26 years while also enjoying his farm, black Angus cattle, and horses. He loved hunting, fishing, and ranch sorting. He loved his wife and six children dearly and supported them in every way.

As a life-long member of the Church, Don served in many capacities, including stake athletic director, high councilor, and bishop. He and Ruth served a proselyting and temple mission to Birmingham, England, for one-and-a-half years, where Don also served as a counselor to the England MTC mission president. While in England, Don began researching the English Mellings, beginning his love for and dedication to family history work. He and Ruth loved serving in the Twin Falls Temple.

Don was a friend to all. He never said a bad word about anyone and was a man without guile. One of Don’s greatest traits was that he loved and accepted everyone unconditionally. Don humbly went about doing good. His many acts of quiet charity were truly an example of the Savior's charge to, "let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." He was a great example to all of those whose lives he touched.

Don is survived by his wife, Ruth; six children, Kaye (Brady) Benham of St. George, Utah, David (Kim) Melling of Spanish Fork, Utah, Scott (Kristen) Melling of Ft. Sill, Okla., Kirt (Lezlie) Melling of Lehi, Utah, JaNaé (Steve) Black of Tampa, Fla., and John (Marielle) Melling of Chicago, Ill.; 29 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and his sister-in-law, Mary Lou Melling. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert; sister, Jane L Imlay; and brother-in-law, Derol Imlay.

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Burley LDS 3rd and 7th Ward Church, 2200 Oakley Ave., in Burley, with Bishop Steven Gerratt officiating.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at the Cedar City Cemetery in Cedar City, Utah.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.

The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to the many neighbors and friends who have shown love and compassion.

Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Thursday at the church.