Melvin Dale Mackey

Melvin Dale Mackey was born September 11, 1930, to Hubert and Mabel Mackey in Omak, Washington. At a young age, the family moved to Arlington, OR, where he attended high school, playing football and breaking his neck while doing so. He made a remarkable recovery. In 1950, he married the love of his life, Viola. Together they went through life loving and supporting each other as they lived the Army life and raising their beautiful family. He joined the US Army and worked his way up through the ranks to become an officer, achieving the rank of LTC (Lieutenant Colonel) before retiring with an honorable discharge after 20+ years of active duty. During this time, he earned an AA degree, OCS (Officer Candidate School) graduate, and many US Army trainings.His military time was to include 2 deployments to Vietnam, amongst several other duty stations, including Germany, Alaska. After retiring, he did several miscellaneous jobs to include selling insurance, working as a supervisor at APS, and ultimately enjoying working for Senior Services in Lewis County, WA, helping senior citizens. He was active in his church in Adna, WA, and also was very active in the Lewis County Lions Club, achieving the status of District Governor. He loved participating in Lions club activities, especially the kids Easter egg hunts, concessions at sporting events, and Christmas toy drives. He was a proud Veteran and enjoyed spending time and sharing stories with other Veterans. He loved spending time with his family, holidays, reunions. After the death of his wife, Viola, in 1/2010, he surprising found love again with Peggy and solidified their love by getting married 6/2011. Together they enjoyed traveling and moved to Puerto Vallarta, MX, living there for 10yrs. After he suffered a serious case of Covid, they decided to move back to the US. They moved to Olympia, where he lived out the rest of his life with his devoted wife, Peggy. He was 95yrs old and passed away peacefully in his sleep.He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59yrs, Viola, parents, Hubert & Mabel Mackey, sister, lla Keenan, brother, Allen Mackey, infant daughter, Gloria Mackey, and grandson, Eric Thuline.He is survived by his loving wife of 14.5 yrs, Peggy. His children, Sheila (Keith Thuline, Brian (Dawn) Mackey, Bruce (Jenny) Mackey, Sheri (Richard) Sipp, sister, Wilma Boyer, stepchildren, Kevin Holman, Kyle Morgan, Gery Haid, and numerous grandchildren and great- grandchildren, whom he adored.He is now at peace in the loving arms of our Lord and Savior. He lived a good, fulfilling, honorable life loving his family, his country, his friends, and always smiling and willing to be of service. He will be deeply missed. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. He will be interned at Tahoma National Cemetery, Kent, WA.