Melvin Lloyd Norrick

Mel Norrick, age 86, of Rogue River, died October 29, 2020 at his home.

Mel was born April 16, 1934 in Huntington Park, California to Floy & Pauline Norrick. When he was young, he moved with his parents to Southern Oregon where he attended Jerome Prairie Elementary School and graduated from Grants Pass High School lettering in football, basketball, and track. He met Diane Inman in Riddle, Oregon and they were married July 22, 1955. At the beginning of their marriage, Mel worked at a local Grants Pass lumber mill and in February 1956 their daughter Vickie was born. He then started guiding river trips on the Rogue River for the Pruitt’s, from whom he later bought their business, River Adventure Float Trips (RAFT). He was often the only purple drift boat on the river, many years sporting his signature drift boat with silver polka dots on a background of royal purple. He met people from all over the world that would go down the river with him, and many returned year after year. He was asked to work on local movie sets including Gunsmoke, McKenna’s Gold, FBI and Hell & High Water, getting to know people like John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn and Jack Elam.

In 1970 his second daughter Robyn was born. In 2001 he moved from Merlin to Rogue River.

Mel was a loving husband and father, a good friend, a successful river outfitter and advocate for the protection of our rivers and wilderness.

Mel loved people, nature, fishing, and taking his family on trips to the Oregon coast for fishing and crabbing in his big purple jet boat. He enjoyed watching high school sports and flying his Cessna, often down the Rogue River canyon.

He was past-president of Oregon Guides and Packers for eight years.

Survivors include his wife Diane Norrick of Rogue River; and two daughters Vickie Casey of Williams and Robyn Schacher of Hugo. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Marvin Norrick; and grandson David Lee Larson.

Private services will be held.