Melvin Laverne Fay, Jr.

Melvin Laverne Fay Jr.

On the morning of Wednesday, June 3, 2020, Melvin (Mel) Laverne Fay, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend left this world at 76 years young.

Mel was born in Spokane, Washington on June 30, 1943 to Melvin Sr. And Addie May McMahan. He graduated West Valley High School in Spokane in 1962. He then went on to serve in the United States Navy from August 10, 1962 to November 9, 1965 during the Vietnam War. After getting out, he went over to Asia with Lier Siegler.

Mel was married to Heidi Ann Watts in 1973. Together they raised two daughters, Holly Jane and Melody. Later in life, Mel met Carolyn Grace Koski and they were married on July 30, 2004. Upon marrying Carolyn, Mel gained four stepsons, Karl, Kelley, Stacy, and Randy.

On May 16, 1979, he joined the Masons and after many years of hard work, Mel became a Master Mason. With a great mind for business, he had also started and ran Fay Rentals in Spokane Washington for many years. Mel had a love of the water and he served in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary where he was a Pilot and flew many officers of the Coast Guard around as well as boating.

He was also associated with the American Red Cross, Washington State Emergency, Priest Lake Search & Rescue and FEMA. He also loved to fly, earned his pilot's wings, bought a small plane and became a member of the Washington Pilot's Association.

Later in life Mel got tired of Spokane's cold winters and purchased a winter home in Yuma, Arizona. He spent numerous hours during Arizona's gentle winters four-wheeling out in the desert with Carolyn, their dogs, and friends. Mel also had a fondness for traveling, and enjoyed sharing those moments with his friends and family. He loved his grandchildren, and extended family.

Mel was preceded in death by wife, Heidi Ann Watts-Fay and daughter, Holly Jane Fay. He is survived by his loving wife, Carolyn Fay, his daughter Melody Casey, stepsons Karl Doern, Kelley Doern, Stacy Thomas, and Randy Thomas. Mel will also be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Jillian Casey, Kaitlyn and Lillian Doern, as well as Karli and Bryson Thomas.

Service will be held at a later date out in Medical Lake, WA., Veterans Cemetery.

21702 W Espanola Rd, Medical Lake, WA 99022

In Lieu of flowers, Contributions may be made in Mel's memory to:

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (Donate.LLS.org or call 888-557-7177),

Hospice of Spokane (121 S Arthur, PO Box 2215, Spokane, Wa. 99210)

Spokane Humane Society
(6607 N. Havana St. Spokane, Wa. 99217 509-467-5235), or

Scraps of Spokane (6815 E. Trent, Spokane, Wa. 99212 - 509-447-2532)

High Flight (by J.G. Magee Jr.)

"Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth,
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds -
and done a hundred things You have not dreamed of -
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there I've chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air.
"Up, up the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace,
where never lark, or even eagle, flew;
and, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
the high untrespassed sanctity of space,
put out my hand and touched the face of God."