Melvin Cherry

Melvin D. Cherry, 77, died March 20, 2004, at Life Care Center, Mount Vernon. He was one of nine children born to Robert G. and Lucy (Montague) Cherry. Melvin was born in Chinook, Mont., Oct. 14, 1926.

Mel was raised in Idaho. At the age of 17, he quit school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam wars. While stationed aboard a U.S. Navy ship in China, Mel met Mary Lee Shuifung. They were married Nov. 3, 1952, in Hong Kong.

Mel and Mary had one son, Donald Cherry. The Navy moved the Cherry family to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in 1953 and then transferred them to Guam, San Diego, San Francisco and back to Whidbey. In 1961, Oak Harbor became their permanent home.

Mr. Cherry retired from the Navy in 1965 as a chief petty officer (E-7). He was a radioman. Following retirement, he worked for a time for Gus Newman as a landscaper and also to the post office. NAS Whidbey later hired him as a technician for the communications department. Eighteen years later, he retired for the second time.

Mel enjoyed salt water fishing, cutting wood and hunting. He was a member of Oak Harbor Lutheran Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Whitehead-Muzzall Post No. 7392 and Fleet Reserve Branch 97, all of Oak Harbor.

Mr. Cherry is survived by his wife Mary at the family home, Oak Harbor and by one son Donald and wife Lori Cherry and two granddaughters, Heather and Hanna, all of Kent. One brother, Robert Edsel Cherry of Michigan and three sisters, Delma Richards of Idaho, Donna McCutcheon of California and Verla Boger of Arizona also survive.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 25, at 2 p.m., at Oak Harbor Lutheran Church with Pastor Lauri Johnson officiating. Military honors will be under the auspices of the NAS Whidbey Island Honor Guard. Cremation with burial at sea will follow under the direction of the U. S. Navy. Visitation for family and friends will be Wednesday, March 24, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursday, March 25, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., at Burley Funeral Chapel.

Memorials may be made to Oak Harbor Lutheran Church.