Melvin “Mel” J. Heard of Ventura passed away on November 14, 2022. He was born on June 27, 1932, in a farmhouse in Hatton, Utah. One of 6 siblings he lived in Black Rock, Utah for the first 3 years of his life and then moved to Jean, Nevada, because his father, Sam, went to work for the Union Pacific Railroad. This began his life-long love of living in the desert.
Mel attended Good Springs High School where he was one of three students in his class! His family moved to Puente, California where he graduated from Puente High School in 1950. Mel worked at various jobs after high school including at a Chevron gas station and his favorite, working at an Arabian horse farm where he got to show the horses to potential buyers. Mel then enlisted in the United States Air Force and proudly served his Country during the Korean War, working on B-29 airplanes. It was during this time he met the love of his life, Dolly Lee, and they were married on December 29, 1956.
Mel and Dolly settled in Diamond Bar, California and raised their 4 children there. They developed lifelong friendships in the neighborhood and had many fun days in their second home in Baja, Mexico.
Mel was a hard worker and provided for his family well. He worked for Chevron in La Habra, California as a machinist for 33 years.
After retirement, Mel and Dolly enjoyed building houses and remodeling them. They had houses in Big Bear, Cottonwood, Arizona, Bullhead City, Arizona, and then settled in Ventura. He also loved rebuilding old cars and he and Dolly loved the LA Dodgers.
Mel is predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Dolly Lee, who passed away in February of 2021. Also, by his parents, Sam and Muriel (Whitaker) Heard, and all of his 6 siblings. He is lovingly survived by his 4 children: Michael Heard, Russell (Sher) Heard, Melanie (Steve) Fekete and Patrick (Christine) Heard. He had 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. He also leaves behind many nephews and nieces that he loved dearly and his pup Shiloh.
Mel, our dad will be greatly missed, but we rejoice in the fact that he is now with his sweetheart and his parents and siblings.
Funeral arrangements will be handled by Conejo Mountain Funeral Home and Memorial Park.
Services for Melvin J Heard
Wednesday November 30
1100 am
Conejo Mountain Funeral Home
2052 Howard Road
