NOV. 16, 1945-APRIL 21, 2018
“Big Mel” was born on November 16, 1945 in Berkley, CA and passed away peacefully on April 21, 2018 at Harborview Medical Center with all his family at his side. His parents, Betty Helen Read Thornton and William Thornton, predeceased him. The family lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, Grass Valley, CA, Redding, CA, and Portland, OR where he graduated from Parkrose High School in 1963.
Big Mel attended Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill, CA and in 1966 joined the US Army. He was in the 5th Special Forces group as a medic and spent two tours in Vietnam, 1967 and 1968, where he was decorated several times, including two Purple Hearts. While there, he ran a field hospital and delivered 55 babies and treated many civilians. After being discharged, he settled in the Vallejo, CA area and worked at the John Muir House and then at Mare Island Naval Shipyard as a loftsman. He then spent many years working out of Seattle on fishing boats in Alaska as a directing chief engineer.
In 1990 Big Mel sailed with his parents on their sailboat to the South Pacific, ending up in American Samoa. He stayed there for almost 10 years owning a fiberglass products business and meeting people who would always be the most important part of his life.
In 1999, Big Mel settled in Port Townsend to be with family and was involved with Swan School for many years, as well as helping coach several youth football teams. His loves were his children and all kids.
He was a talented artist in many mediums and loved cooking (and eating), most especially Mexican food. We will all miss Big Mel.
He is survived by children Melvin and Mileta, brother Tucker (Eileen), sisters Irene McMasters and Jerilyn Brinker (Pete), 6 nephews and 4 nieces, as well as many extended family and friends. A private memorial gathering will be held in late June at the family property in Quilcene.
