Melvin F. Walker

Melvin "Mel" F. Walker, 89, of Clarkston passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at Life Care Center in Lewiston. He was born Jan. 29, 1936, to Hugh and Dora (Moody) Walker in Grangeville. His family moved from Grangeville to Cottonwood, and then to Kamiah before moving to Clarkston where Mel started his schooling in second grade. He spent time growing up in the summer at Newsome Creek at his family cabin. Mel enjoyed boxing and running track during his high school years and was in the class of 1955. He was a hard worker and started at age 11 working for Frederickson's Orchards in Clarkston picking cherries, apples, peaches, tomatoes and pears. They even let him drive the tractor a little, as well. Before graduating high school Mel started working at Bennett Box Factory in 1953. It later became Bennett Lumber Company where he worked full-time. After graduating he also had jobs working in the planner mill, driving truck and maintenance/mill wright work. Mel owned his own construction business building and remodeling homes in the mid to late 1970s and worked as a mill wright at the Clarkston Grain Terminal where he retired in 1998. Mel decided he was not quite ready for retirement and went back to work for Bennett Lumber as a crane operator.

Mel met Shirley Moomaugh and they were married in 1953 and later divorced. Mel met his true-life partner, JoAnne Ogden and they married in January 1970 (on his birthday). They spent the next fifty-plus years experiencing good times, as well as bad, raising their families, making life-long friends and memories, leaving a good feeling with everyone they met. Sadly, Mel lost JoAnne in September of 2023.

Mel was a lifelong member of the Clarkston Chapter of the Eagles and the Moose Lodge and worked on the board of officers and was a junior governor. Mel was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed snowmobiling, camping, owning horses and operating his backhoe on their property. He loved helping his family and friends whenever a backhoe was needed. He loved watching his westerns and especially the Seattle Mariners, usually with a Budweiser in hand.

Mel was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend to so many. We will miss his kindness and gentle ways. Mel is preceded in death by his wife JoAnne, daughter Kim Potoshnick, son Marty Walker, son-in-law Robert Barrett, three brothers Bill, Jim and James and five sisters Gladys, Florence, Geneva, Irene and Mary. He is survived by his four children, Mont Walker, Jolanda Barrett, Ken Ogden (Sherie) and Mike Ogden (Heather). He has 10 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the staff at Life Care Center, along with Dr. John Rudolph, PA's Shaylee and Connie for the last two years of Dad's exceptional care for him. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to a charity of your choice.

A memorial service to celebrate both the lives of Mel and JoAnne Walker will be held at a later date this fall, their favorite season.

"Together once again"...Babe and Melvin-