Melvin Keith Laws

December 18, 1941 ~ February 26, 2021

Melvin Keith Laws of Blanding, UT passed away peacefully on February 26, 2021.

Melvin was born in Blanding, UT on December 18, 1941 to Wilbur and Wanda Laws. He was the fourth of ten children.

Melvin grew up in Blanding and loved his childhood. He was part of an amazing family. He had several great friends and was full of mischief.

He loved competing in sports, especially wrestling and track. He ran track for Dixie College, being one of their first scholarship track athletes.

One of his favorite past times was watching his children and grandchildren in their respective sports. 

Melvin was called on a church mission to Northern California for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He didn’t make it through the Missionary Training Center, however, because of a serious bone infection from a previous injury.

Instead, he married the love of his life, Leila Alldredge (whom he met in St. George while attending Dixie), in the St. George temple for time and all eternity.

Together they had five children: Brian (Sonja), Linda (Kevin), Tara (Earl), Darin, and Lonnie (Stephanie), whom they adore and sacrifice everything for!

Mel was a history buff and always had his nose in a good book. He loved hiking, four-wheeling and searching for historical treasures around San Juan county.

He loved hunting – both with bows and guns. Once he even made his own bow and went hunting with it!

Mel experienced many accidents and injuries throughout his life. It’s amazing he lived as long as he did. He truly had a purpose to be on Earth! 

Mel liked to tease and tell stories. It was hard to tell if his stories were real or made up. Many of the stories he made up had to do with his injuries or misfortunes.

Did he ever tell you about how he got that terrible scar on his arm, lost the end of his finger, or how he lost his dentures?

Mel worked 43 years as a probation officer (adult and youth) and/or in youth corrections. His final place of employment was as Director of Canyonlands Youth Center – a job he loved very much. Melvin was great with the youth and helped foster change in many lives for good.

He cherished the people he got to work with over the years. Mel also owned local businesses – Mel’s Place (restaurant) and Mel’s Video.

Mel had a huge heart. He did a lot of kind things for others, both seen and unseen. He often bought things for people in need, especially at Christmas time.

He also loved animals and had many pets over the years, but he especially loved his dog Snickers who has laid by his side for many years.

Mel leaves behind his beautiful wife Leila, their five children, 25 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and four siblings Retta (Dee) Hall, Carolyn (Bill) Castagno, Jean (Mike) Pearson, and Kelly (Terri) Laws.

He is preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law (Dee and Myrtle Alldredge), five siblings, Curt, Jim, Kay, Sandra, and Lynn; as well as many wonderful in-laws. It must have been a very happy reunion!

Services are Friday, March 5, at 11 a.m. at the Blanding Stake Center and can be seen at https://zoom.us/j/96167153952

Card of thanks
The family would like to thank all of the many excellent doctors, nurses, and medical personnel that have helped so much with Mel over the years. Thanks for making him as comfortable as possible!