Melvin HAMMON

Hammon, Melvin 4/9/1925 - 2/2/2017 Burton Melvin "Mel" Ray Hammon of Burton, age 91, passed away Thursday, February 2, 2017 in his sleep at his home with family at his bedside. Funeral services will be held 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at Eastgate Baptist Church, where he was a member, 4226 E. Atherton Road, Burton, Michigan, with Pastor Jerome Taylor officiating. Burial follows at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, Michigan. Visitation 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Brown Funeral Home, 1480 E. Hill Road, Grand Blanc, Michigan and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the church. Mel was born in Paragould, Arkansas on April 9, 1925, the son of farmers John J. Hammon and Nellie Hammon. He was preceded in death by siblings Altha, Clarence, George, Tillie, Nelson, Lester and Bill. Surviving are Eugene and Ruth. Melvin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Little Rock, Arkansas on March 24, 1943. He served as a Rifleman in World War II where he fought in the battles of Kwajalein, Saipan, and Iwo Jima, where he was wounded by shrapnel. Melvin was awarded several medals for his dedication and bravery, including the Presidential Citation and two Purple Hearts. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Marines never left him, as friends and family will attest. After his service, Melvin married Marjorie "Marge" Dean Gladish and moved to Michigan in 1949 where they raised their four boys Teddy, Ronald, David, and Michael. Mel worked for AC Spark Plug and retired after more than 30 years of employment. Mel and Marge were in their 70th year of marriage. Melvin was a lifelong musician and well known for his skill on the fiddle. In 1980 he formed the band Old South with his wife Marjorie, son Ron, and brother George. Old South played many venues all over the United States. Mel and his band were inducted into the Michigan Bluegrass Hall of Fame in 1999 and continued to play and love music until the end. More than anything Mel cherished his faith and family and instilled in all of them a deep sense of loyalty and love for one another. Mel leaves his wife Marjorie Dean Hammon (Gladish); sons, Ted (wife Linda) Hammon, Ronald Hammon, David Hammon, Michael (wife Brenda) Hammon; grandchildren, Jason, Jennifer (husband Scott), Jessica, Michael (husband Jeremy), John (wife Jessica), Casey (wife Rachel), Joel (wife Kacie), and Erica (husband Brian); and 15 great-grandchildren with two more on the way. Please share your condolences with the family at www.brownfh.com