Melvin Earl Mangum, Jr. (Mel)

Mel started life during the depression, the oldest of 3 boys born to Ada Fern and Melvin Earl Mangum, Sr. He was a child of simpler times, tough times, and often times of deep need. He faced poverty and hard work, whether it was sharecropping or logging for hop poles with horses in the mountains. During his childhood, Mel spent many times with his large extended family and eventually went to live with his grandparents in Nampa, Idaho. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Portland Oregon, where he helped reforest the Tillamook Burn area of the Oregon Coast, another area he loved dearly. He was a member of a mountain climbing club, scaling many of the mountains in the Northwest, including Mount Hood. During high school he also won a singing competition with his talented vocal abilities.

He served in the Air Force from 1950-1955 and learned his first vocation as a laboratory medical technologist. While working at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, he made a notable contribution with the famous Dr. Pirofsky, co-authoring a seminal paper on the use of bromelin to demonstrate erythrocyte antibodies at the tender age of 26. He went on to work at Mercy Hospital in Nampa, Idaho, where he would meet his future wife, Margene, also a lab tech there. They were married in an elegant ceremony August 20, 1960, in New Meadows, ID and moved to Yakima, WA soon after where Mel took a position as the Chief Tech at the Red Cross.

Their family soon grew with the birth of Melani in 1961, followed by Marshall in 1962 and they had the "joy" of raising the two children separated by only 13 months. Their childhood was spent between Yakima, Greeley, Colorado and Lewiston, Idaho. There are many fond memories of camping and fishing trips up the little creeks and rivers of Washington and Idaho. One memorable trip where dad caught a steelhead so big that he ended up in the Little Salmon River after it "pulled him in".

Dad decided his true vocation lied not as a med tech, but in special education, and he decided to go back to college, achieving undergraduate and master's degrees from Central Washington University and then later, an Ed.D. from University of Northern Colorado in Special Education and Administration. One of the first people to graduate with a major in Special Education, he was a true pioneer in inclusion and equal access to education for all people, regardless of their physical or mental challenges. After graduation he took a position as Special Education Director at Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho and later became the Dean of Education there.

Dad was an outspoken advocate of the new ADA laws and the freedom they provided to those with disabilities. He later decided his talents were best served by being more proactive in the education system and took a job in Walla Walla as a monitor of many eastern WA school districts for the ESD 123. There he got the opportunity to be the carrot and the hammer to make sure the unseen were seen, eventually working up to the Director of the ESD 123. He worked tirelessly to serve those in his care. He also served on the Governor's Advisory Committees for disabilities and building permits where he would influence Walla Walla to build curb cutouts at street crossings around town. He was chosen by AARP to represent and speak at a televised interview with then President Bill Clinton.

Dad and Mom loved to travel and went to Germany, Japan, Korea, The Czech Republic, and England. He presented a paper at a Special Education conference in Cardiff, Wales. They also visited his bothers in Meridian, ID and Biloxi, Mississippi, and spending time with his sister Linda traveling to Mexico and in both Black Diamond, WA, and later Boise. He loved to pick up summer teaching gigs in different areas for the country, including Flagstaff Arizona.

Dad loved to write poems for his children and grandchildren, enjoyed cross country skiing, running, and participating in fun runs and Bloomsday. He was famous for his annual pumpkin carving parties for staff, friends, and family. He was a member of the Eastgate Lions Club, especially loved supporting the annual Crab Feed, and he formerly belonged to the Rose Society in support of his lifelong passion for roses. Dad loved family, he loved being around them and was quite the kidder. On every birthday he was famous for saying "Well, now you're halfway to...." doubling their current age.

Dad is survived by his bride of nearly 62 years Margene. Children Melani (Bruce) Mangum-Williams, and Marshall (Maria) Mangum. Grandchildren Erica (Jesus) Solis, Alex Feucht, Julia (Jon) Vivian, Megan (Les) Pereira, Cail Mangum, Aaron (Sidnee) Mangum, and Isaac (Lydia) Mangum. Great Grand-Children- Dominic, Liliana and Chloe Solis, Jadzia, Declan and Emris Pereira, Sophia, Elliana, and Clara Vivian.

The family would like to thank the tireless caregivers from Walla Walla Community Hospice, especially JD and Doreen. We would also like to thank Irma Mendoza, Magdalena Lopez, and the support from Matty's Home Care Services (Matilda Munoz and Lettie). Without you all, it would have been impossible to keep dad in his home. Thanks, is not enough to express our gratitude.

Dad - Thank you for instilling commitment and dedication in us all, showing us by example how to be faithful and true to those you love. A Celebration of Life is planned for August 20th, 2022 (their 62nd anniversary) at the home of Melani and Bruce Williams at 2:00pm. Donations may be made to either Walla Walla Community Hospice or Walla Walla Community College School of Nursing in Mel's name.