Melvin Havely

Melvin Ray Havely, 80, of Slater, Wyoming, passed away on July 14, 2023 with family at his side after valiantly enduring multiple sclerosis. Melvin was born on December 19, 1942, in Wheatland, WY, the ninth and youngest child of Herbert and Leona Havely. Mel graduated from Chugwater High School in 1961. He met his wife, Barbara Ross from Gering, NE on a blind date and they married in 1962. Triple H Farms was his pride as he farmed and ranched in the Slater area for decades, living with their three children at the homeplace that Mel’s grandfather homesteaded in 1913. Mel loved farming and working with their Black Angus cattle. He was one of the first to bring the practice of using stubble mulch no-till farming to the Slater Flats and also served as a grain broker for Pillsbury in the 1970s-80s. He was often highly opinionated (it’s a family trait) and he loved sharing good conversation. He was an ardent reader, loved working outdoors and driving trucks which he did in retirement. Melvin was confident, tenacious, a bit stubborn (another Havely trait) and civically minded. He met two U.S. presidents in his lifetime, Gerald Ford during the 1979 farm strike in Washington DC and George H.W. Bush. He was not afraid to stand up for what he thought was right and entered into local politics, serving two terms as a Platte County Commissioner in the 1970’s and 80’s. It was during his first commissioner’s term in 1974-78 that he was instrumental in bringing a significant number of jobs to the local community with the building of the Missouri Basin Power Project Laramie River Station at Wheatland. He was proud that he helped bring that economic boost to the county. When new people moved onto Slater Flats Mel was among the first to welcome them. Like old times, he enjoyed visiting friends & relatives and taking Sunday drives to the mountains. He also enjoyed watching sports, notably following the Denver Broncos and the University of Wyoming women’s basketball team.

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, Herb & Leona (Fry) Havely; five siblings, including sisters & brothers-in-law, Grace (Joe) Saylor, Geraldine (Marvin) Lauck & an infant sister, brothers Gerald & Garland (Mary) Havely, parents-in-law, Jake & Christine Ross, brothers & sisters-in-law, Warren (Ruth) and Leon (Katie) Ross, Victor Fernandez, Billie Edwards, Freeman Talley & other cherished relatives and friends. He’s reunited in eternity with his favorite blue heelers, Nipper & Dinah, his little rat terrier, Dandy & favorite childhood cat, Gary. Mel is survived by wife, Barb, son Kelly, who he called his pardner, twin daughters Candace (Mark) Havely & Crystal (Marc) Stratton, granddaughters, Madalynn & Macey Stratton and sisters Gladys (Zane) Geis, Wilda Edwards & Dorothy Fernandez, many loved cousins, nephews & nieces and best friends, Jim Kelso & Ed Barker. Melvin will be greatly missed, but remembered well. He and Barb were/are wonderful parents and their children will miss him dearly. Family will scatter his ashes privately at one of his favorite spots in the beautiful Wyoming landscape that he loved so much. Melvin generously donated his brain for MS research, so in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or the Davis Hospice Center 6000 Sycamore Rd, Cheyenne, WY 82009.