Mel A. Buttrum

1948 - 2017

Mel A. Buttrum

Evansville, Ind.

Mel A. Buttrum, 69, of Marysville, Wash., passed away suddenly on June 21, 2017.

He was born April 25, 1948, in Evansville, Ind. Mel graduated Cum Laude in 1966, from William Henry Harrison High School in Evansville, Ind. He attended Indiana University and shortly thereafter he began his career in the electrical contracting field. In 1994, he became co-owner of Service Electric Co., which he remained active until his death.

Service Electric has been a NECA member since 1957. Mel and his partner, Todd Kottsick, acquired the business in 1994. Mel has served the Cascade Chapter, NECA Board, as president, governor, and current Board Member. On a national level, he was elected district vice president and served on the executive board representing NECA District 6 with distinction. He was appointed as national chair on the marketing committee and the esteemed industry CIR board as management chair, due to his belief that labor relations at all levels and developing cooperation and industry awareness was the key for sustaining the unionized electrical industry. He was inducted as a "Fellow" in the Academy of Electrical Contracting as recognition of his many contributions to the electrical industry. In addition, he went on to serve on its board for seven years.

Mel was an avid sports enthusiast and he particularly enjoyed watching baseball and boxing. He was a lifelong angler, a few of the places he enjoyed fishing were Belize, Queen Charlotte Islands, B.C., and Florida. Mel also, enjoyed traveling to many places especially Spain, France and Africa.

Mel is survived by wife of 39 years Claudia; daughter, Carol (Trent) Gardner, of Newburgh, Ind.; sons, Kevin (Candy) Bennett, of Leesville, La., and Mark Bennett, of Marysville, Wash.; granddaughters, Taylor and Kelsey Gardner, of Newburgh, Ind., and Brooke and Devon Bennett, of Leesville, La.; mother, Marilyn (Husk) Wilson; brothers, Paul (Jane) Buttrum, of Evansville, Ind., and Nathaniel (Susan) Buttrum, of Boonville, Ind.; stepsister, Kirsten (Mark) Cannon, of Brownsburg, Ind.,; and stepbrother, Ed Buttrum, of Indianapolis, Ind.

His father, Leo E. Buttrum Jr. and his stepmother, Barbara Buttrum preceded him in death.

Mel's Celebration of Life will be held at the Tulalip Resort Casino & Spa, 10200 Quil Ceda Boulevard, Tulalip, WA on July 22, 2017 at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting donations to be made to the Mel Buttrum Scholarship Fund in care of Cascade Chapter, NECA.