Melvin Andrew Mahaffey's Obituary
Melvin Andrew Mahaffey, 88, a former resident of Lake Charles, LA, was born March 21, 1923, in Mittie, LA to Amos and Ola (Bailey) Mahaffey. He died on June 9, 2011 in Beauregard Memorial Hospital, DeRidder, LA.
Funeral Service will be held on Sunday, June 12, 2011, 2:30 PM at Labby Memorial Funeral Home of DeRidder, LA. Minister will be Rev. Lindsey Burns. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, DeRidder, under the direction of Labby Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 11, 2011, 6 pm till 9 pm at the funeral home and Sunday, noon until the time of the service.
Survivors include his daughter, Karen (Mahaffey) Palermo of DeRidder; he was a special pawpaw to his grandchildren; Troy Palermo and wife Alison of Columbus, Ohio, Kent Palermo and wife Wendi of DeRidder, Jana (Palermo) Ferguson and husband Jared of Fort Riley, Kansas, Melissa (Mahaffey) Feith and husband Russell of DeQuincy; great grandchildren, Amanda Feith, Addisyn and Barron Ferguson, Isabel Palermo; step great grandchildren, Joey and Rusciana Feith; one brother, James “Mac” Mahaffey and wife Linda of Iowa, LA; two sisters, Betty (Jackie) Wynn of Lago Vista, TX and Laura Hobbs and husband E. W. of Houston, TX; brother-in-law, Clayton Cryar and wife Pattie of Moss Bluff; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 56 years, Betty Cryar Mahaffey; one son, Arley Joe Mahaffey; his “favorite” son-in-law, Ronnie Palermo, all of Lake Charles; two brothers, Stephen “Buck” (Alymae) Mahaffey and Kenneth (Mona) Mahaffey; one sister, Ellie (Clarence)Knippers. He also leaves behind his special pet and companion, “Little Bit”.
Melvin was proud to have served his country in the United States Navy Pacific Fleet as a gunner aboard the USS Lyman K. Swenson during World War II. He graduated from the Modern Barber College of Houston, TX and became a barber where he worked in Lake Charles for many years. He was also a carpenter and a retired member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
A special thank you from the family goes to Dr. Ben Thompson of Lake Charles, who faithfully took great care of Melvin for many years and always took the time to listen to his gardening tales and worm-raising adventures.
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