New book on life of Melvin Lee Gaines

by Leon Jones
A new book tells the story of a man who spent 90 colorful years in Bluff. It is titled Melvin Lee Gaines, The Heart of a Bluff Farmer, Inventor, Storyteller and Pioneer.
William “Lum” and Buena Gaines arrived in Bluff, UT in 1932. with their one year-old son, Melvin Lee Gaines.
Lum and Buena knew nothing of the 52 year history of adversity and hardship experienced by the Bluff settlers who preceded them. They would soon learn just how hard it was to raise a family there.
Soon, Lum and Buena would be familiar with the stifling heat, daily winds, an unpredictable San Juan River, and constant challenges. But these were not ordinary farmers.
These were pioneer stock, much like the Nielsons, Bartons, Lymans, Perkins, Redds, Woods, Waltons, Deckers, and many more hardy pioneers who preceded them.
Until they could build a small adobe home, the Gaines family slept on the Nielson’s haystack. From the time Melvin and his sister Faye Belle could walk, they learned to farm so the family could subsist.
When farm duties allowed, Melvin and his sister Faye Belle, attended the one-room Bluff School. They graduated from the eighth grade together when Melvin was 17 and about two feet taller than anyone else in their class.
By this time, with limited reading and writing skills, Melvin took initiative to learn about everything around him. He became fluent in every car, truck, tractor, home appliance and roadbuilding equipment. Before Melvin graduated from school, he was operating heavy-duty equipment for Orzo Hunt, and later, the Utah Department of Transportation for 34 years.
Along with skills in farming, mechanics, and many inventions, Melvin was a storyteller. He was known for his memory and magical stories of his 90 year history in Bluff.
Melvin remembered every person, house, and dog who lived in Bluff. He described details of each one: where they lived and the names of parents, siblings and every child.
Several years ago, Beverly Black, whose mother, Freeda Perkins, grew up in Bluff, felt a desire for someone to write Melvin’s history. She set out and recruited volunteers from the Bluff Fort to conduct and record interviews with Melvin.
At Melvin’s funeral last year I asked Beverly how the book was coming along. She expressed sadness that she no longer had time to write. I offered to help.
Writing Melvin’s history was an eye-opening experience for me. Melvin’s family and friends contributed photographs and stories. The book is published by Amazon and is available on amazon.com and at SJR Books.
Much of the book is Melvin’s history in his own words. Beverly Black added this statement, “Reading this book will make you feel like Melvin is telling one of his many favorite stories and you are sitting right beside him.”
A powerful lesson I gleaned from writing this history is that Melvin Lee Gaines had a very important purpose to his family and to everyone he associated with in Bluff. His parents also had special purposes in raising their family in Bluff.
From my own San Juan ancestry from Kumen, Mary and Lydia Jones, I also see their important purposes. I believe this applies to everyone with roots or connections to San Juan. We all have an important purpose.