Obituary -- Donald 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.