Melvin T. "Mel" Rippetoe

MELVIN "MEL" T. RIPPETOE Our loving dad, Melvin Rippetoe, passed away quietly in his home after a heroic battle with leukemia. He was 77. Melvin was an avid builder, welder and mechanic. He loved cars, motorcycles, tractors, hunting, fishing and anything scientific. As a young man, Melvin was trained by Chevrolet as an auto mechanic. Later in life he built his own business, "Basin Power Spoolers", from the ground up. In 1996 he retired to Summit Lake, where he lived out the rest of his life surrounded in the beauty of the forest and mountains. Mel was born in Dolores, Colo. on May 8, 1936 to Lawrence Rippetoe and Letha Mae (Freeman) Rippetoe. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Larry Rippetoe; and his spouse, Inga Rippetoe. He is survived by his daughters, Susan Lucas and husband, Wayne of Dolores, Cindy House and husband, David of Farmington, N.M., and Debra Embree and husband, Roger Kenzel of New Mexico. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. A celebration of life gathering to honor Mel's life will be held at Ertel Memorial Chapel on Saturday, January 25 from 1-3 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of Montezuma, P.O. Box 740, Cortez.