Melvin Neilson

Melvin Neils Neilson, 85, passed away from aggressive mesothelioma on August 15, 2024. Melvin was born May 7, 1939 to Martin Edward and Anna Marie Monson Neilson in Millville, Utah. He was the youngest of six children. Melvin grew up working on the family farm and other farms in the area. He graduated from South Cache High School in 1957. Mel started his career at Thiokol and bought a home in Brigham City. He met Janet Watterson while cruising Logan’s Main Street and they were married on March 18, 1967. They have three daughters: Melanie (Jay) Naumann, Julie (Alan) Cochran, and Rosalie (Jason) Hancey. Mel was a loving father and grandfather of nine grandchildren: Trevor (Brittany) Naumann, Bobb Naumann, Amelia Naumann, Connor Naumann, Holly (Richard) Anderson, Alana (Spencer) Lehr, Katie Cochran, Summer Hancey, and Aubrey Hancey; and five great-grandchildren: Carter Lehr, Ella Anderson, Sam Naumann, and newly born this week, Jack Anderson and Olivia Lehr. Mel enjoyed attending concerts, plays, recitals, and any sporting events the grandkids participated in. After being laid off from Thiokol soon after he and Janet were married, he got a job working for Mountain Fuel where he spent twenty-five years working as a natural gas service specialist. After retirement from Mountain Fuel, he then spent ten years as a meter reader for Brigham City. After his second retirement, Melvin spent a lot of time fishing throughout Utah, Idaho, and Wyoming with Val Hoth. He looked forward to the annual salmon fishing trip on the Columbia River. Melvin enjoyed fishing much more than eating fish, and shared his catch with many friends, family, and neighbors. In this case, teaching a man to fish fed a community. Melvin also enjoyed traveling with his friend Randy Hawkes and with his cousins. Mel bought his first car when he was sixteen years old so he could drive his parents into town to shop. This was the start of a lifelong love of the automobile. He had a deep love for Corvette Stingrays and owned a 1964 and a 2017 model. He really enjoyed showing his car at local car shows. Mel loved watching college football, basketball, the NFL, and the NBA. Grandpa could make a jump shot and read a defense from his living room. Melvin lived in his Brigham City home for fifty-seven years. He loved the neighborhood and his neighbors. The Briggs family held a special place in his heart and he considered them part of his family. Mel spent a lifetime serving others in his neighborhood, mowing lawns, raking leaves, and clearing snow. Mel was always a hard worker whether at home or at work; he prided himself on a job well done. For the first 84.5 years of his life, Mel was the picture of health. He started exercising and lifting weights as a teenager and continued this practice his whole life. He only ever used nine days of sick leave, and three of those were for the days his daughters were born. March 2024 brought a devastating diagnosis of cancer. Mel is survived by his children, grandchildren, and his brother, Arnold Neilson. He was preceded in death by his wife Janet, his parents, infant siblings Fern and Merlin, sister Ellen Marie Boles, and brother Allen Neilson. The family would like to thank McKayla and the Aegis Hospice team and the staff at The Gables Care Center for their attentive and compassionate end-of-life care. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Gillies Funeral Chapel, 634 E 200 S, Brigham City, Utah. Viewings will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Gillies Funeral Chapel and prior to the service from 10:00-10:45 a.m. Interment will take place at the Brigham City Cemetery. Please share a memory in Mel's Memorial page for the family. The memorial page will also have the livestream once the funeral has started.