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Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 11:38 PM
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Obituary -- Donald Mello

  • Source: Smith Family Funeral Home
Obituary -- Donald Mello
Don Mello

Donald Mello was born January 14, 1944 to Betty (Freman) Mello and Manuel Mello in Water Valley, Mississippi. Shortly after his father left to fight in the second World War he and his mother returned to Fallon. He would go on to attend Churchill County schools and graduated from Churchill County High School in 1963. After highschool he worked for the Atomic Energy Commission assisting in the nuclear testing that has made Nevada famous on the world stage. Soon after he began as a draftsman at the Churchill County Telephone Company, a company he would work at for the next 38 years of his life. He would go on to retire as the general manager. During this time, the most important moment of his life would come to pass when he fell in love with Saundra Mori. Saundra and Don would marry and stand side by side with each other for 58 years bringing two children, Traci and Scott into the world.

Throughout his life he was an active member of his community. He was the player agent for Little League Baseball for 18 years and also coached several teams. He was part of the local PTA and served as president, helping put on the PTA parade every year. Don was a member of the Churchill County School Board for 10 years. He was a hobbyist racecar driver and a football star in his youth, an avid hunter, fisherman, and talented woodworker throughout his later life. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge, and an acting RPEN (Retired Public Employees of Nevada) member for 23 years, the last ten of it being the president. 

He is preceded in death by his mother and father Betty (Freemen) Mello and Manuel Mello, his stepfather Alva Case, his brother Joe Mello and his sister Jeanie Mello. He is survived by his family who will greatly miss the warmth and laughter he could bring into any room; his loving wife Saundra; his children Traci Ledesma, and Scott (Brandy) Mello; his grandchildren Amber (Abe) Dibben, Jacob Ledesma, Cole Mello, and Mikala Ledesma; his great grandchild Dawson Dibben; his brothers and sisters Garnet (Dennise) Mello, Mike (Bretlyn) Mello, Ava Case, Roberta Williams, and several nieces and nephews; his adopted family Nona McFarlane and Billy Erb. He is also survived by his telephone company family as well as all those who he touched the hearts of in this community.

A celebration of his life service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Home on Friday, February 14, 2025. The viewing will begin at 11:00 am followed by the funeral at 12:00 pm and a gathering after at the Eagles Hall.

 


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Carol Jackson 02/10/2025 08:33 AM
I am so sorry to hear of Don`s passing. When I was in high school in the 1960`s, a friend and I were swimming in the Fallon pool. We had been jumping off the diving board and some kids thought it was fun to dunk us as we came up. My friend started calling help me and we thought she was kidding around. Don had been sitting in the stands watching. He climbed over the chain link fence and dove in and pulled her to the side. He recognized she was in serious trouble. He must have only been about 16 at the time. There was life guards but they were at the shallow end and were not aware . It was an incredible thing for him to do. Forever a Hero in my mind and heart. My heart and prayers are with all his family and friends. He was always such a nice, nice man.

Shari Peck Holmes 02/09/2025 11:15 PM
He was a great man, Mr. Don Mello, and one of my dad, Ben Pecks, dear friend. He will be missed by all. R.i.p Don

Ella Johnston 02/08/2025 03:00 PM
My heart felt condolences to the entire family. Don was like a father to me and a special friend to my mom and dad. He wil be sorely missed

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COMMENTS
Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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