Melvin R. Essex

Melvin "Mel" R. Essex, 69, of Mount Vernon, peacefully passed away on Friday, February 03, 2006, in Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids from lung cancer. A Celebration of Mel's Life will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 7, 2006 at First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon. The family will greet friends from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Monday, at Morgan Funeral Home, Mount Vernon. A Masonic service will follow the visitation. Private family burial will be in Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery. Mel was born May 4, 1936, in Muscatine County, born to Ralph and Dorothy Cochran Essex joining sisters Beverly Vann and Marilyn Thoren. He grew up on a farm where his passion for agriculture began. He graduated from West Liberty High School and received both his Bachelor of Science and his Masters in Agriculture from Iowa State University, Ames. Mel was married to Karen White for twenty three years. The couple had four children: Scott A. of Houston, Texas, Alan B. of Cambridge, Sonia (Tom) Redmond of Mount Vernon, and Rhonda (Jose) Carmona of Houston. Mel married Pam Baird August 28, 1997 in Monticello. His step-children include: Erin (Danny) Short of Killeen, Texas, Katie (P.J.) Atwood of Cedar Rapids, Megan (Marco) de Leon of Cedar Rapids, and his adopted son, Jon Essex of Iowa City. Together Mel and Pam have fifteen grandchildren. Mel taught vocational agriculture at North Linn High School and was head of the Horticulture Department at Kirkwood Community College. He established Essex Highway One Garden Center of Mount Vernon. For the last eighteen years, Mel was a business consultant for the Institute of Social and Economic Development, teaching clients to develop small businesses. During this career, he received the satisfaction of touching many people's lives. He was honored December 28, 2005, with the first "Mel Essex Special Achievement Award." This award lives on into the future and will be presented annually to a business or employee who has demonstrated the standard of business ethics set by Mel. Mel wanted those around him to know that there is joy, humor, life and love, while living with a life crisis. He is an example of courage and grace. A memorial fund in Mel's honor has been established and will be directed to cancer research.