Melvin David Manire

Melvin David Manire, age 73, of Grants Pass, died Friday, July 2, 2010 at his home with his family.

A memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, July 8, 2010 at North Valley Assembly of God in Hugo with Pastor Curt Thorne officiating. Private interment will be at Eagle Point National Cemetery. Hull & Hull Funeral Directors are in charge of arrangements.

Melvin was born June 14, 1937 in Forestburg, Texas to James R. Manire & Pearl C. Manire. From 1954 to 1958 he served in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. H.W. Tucker (DDR 875) and the U.S.S. Yarnal (DDR 541). After his honorable discharge, he transferred to the Naval Reserves and was Commandant of the 8th Naval District in New Orleans, Louisiana. On November 9, 1974 in Aloha, Oregon he married his wife, Linda. He lived in McAdoo and Lubbock, Texas; California; and Oregon. For 30 years he worked as maintenance supervisor at St. Mary’s Home for Boys in Beaverton, Oregon. He moved to Grants Pass eight years ago.

While living in Grants Pass, Melvin attended Rivers of Life Foursquare Church for four years and most recently North Valley Assembly of God Church for the past four years. Previously he attended Evergreen Christian Center in Hillsboro, Oregon where he served as a Sunday school teacher and assisted in youth backpacking trips and later Forest Grove Assembly of God where he also assisted in youth activities such as driving bus and rafting trips. He volunteered as a firefighter in Timber, Oregon and for Cascade Boys Ranch in Hugo as a night watchman.

He was a musician from age 21. He played lead guitar and sang in a country and gospel band that played at Flying ‘M’ Ranch in Yamhill, Oregon and in later years at churches and nursing homes.

Melvin loved the outdoors and wildlife. During his younger years, being raised on a farm he loved watermelon and picked a whole lot ‘a cotton.

In addition to his loving wife, Linda Manire of Grants Pass; he is survived by three daughters, Cece Boatwright and Carrie Ginter both of Vancouver, Washington and Melinda Poling of Gaston, Oregon; four sons, Mel Manire Jr of Vancouver, Washington, Cliff Manire of Camas, Washington, Daniel Moore of Kearns, Utah, and Rusty Manire of Puyallup, Washington; a sister, Wanda Williams of Overland, Kansas; 25 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Jim; and a sister, Bernadine.