Joseph David Melott, 84, of Shawnee, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, December 28, 2014 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was the 11th of 12 children born to Reverend Louis and Mrs. Nellie Hicks Melott in the country near Binger, Oklahoma. Joseph grew up in the Asher and Maud area until he was 13 years old. He took on the responsibility of farming for the family at the age of 11. He left home at the age of 13 to live with his sister in Vinita, Oklahoma. Joseph proudly served his county by enlisting in the Army Air Corp at the age of 15 and spent his 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays inside the Arctic Circle at a place called BW8. He transferred to the Air Force when it was made a separate branch and served his country for 22 ½ years retiring in 1968 with the rank of SMSGT. Joseph served in the Korean conflict and in Spain helping to build a pipeline and served as head of the recruiting office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While serving in the military Joseph earned his Associates Degree. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal on March 18, 1957 for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. Upon retiring from the military he went to work for St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa as assistant executive housekeeper and retired at the end of 1989 as executive housekeeper. Joseph married his wife, Eileen Taylor, on August 12, 1967 in Miami, Oklahoma. After retiring from St. Francis he and his wife started traveling and enjoyed visiting all the states except Alaska and Hawaii. He was very active in the Masonic Lodge of Owasso #545, serving as Worshipful Master in 1987. That same year he served as Worthy Patron of Owasso Chapter #511 of the Order of Eastern Star with his wife. Joseph continued to be active in both orders in Tecumseh Masonic Lodge #69 and Shawnee Masonic Lodge #54. He was a member of both Owasso Lodge #545 and Shawnee Composite Lodge; a perpetual member of Owasso Chapter #511 of the Order of Eastern Star. After moving to Shawnee he became active in Tribal activities. He was a proud member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and was very active in forming the CPN Veterans Organization serving as the organization’s third commander. Joseph was a member of the Sharon Baptist Church and enjoyed being with all of his sisters and brothers in the Togetherness Class.
He was preceded in death by his father, Reverend Louis Melott who died at age 96; his mother, Nellie Hicks Melott; sisters, LueBelle Hash, Cordelia Mitchell, Katherine Ferri, Viola Burrow, Thelma Highland and Mary Ruth Bledsoe; and brother, Ben Melott.
Joseph is survived by his wife, Eileen Melott of the home; stepson, Jeff Jackson and wife, Tana of Tulsa, OK; son, Bill Melott of Tulsa, OK; sister, Emily R. Smith of Tulsa, OK; 4 grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Reverend Louis Melott who died at age 96; his mother, Nellie Hicks Melott; sisters, LueBelle Hash, Cordelia Mitchell, Katherine Ferri, Viola Burrow, Thelma Highland and Mary Ruth Bledsoe; and brother, Ben Melott.
Joseph is survived by his wife, Eileen Melott of the home; stepson, Jeff Jackson and wife, Tana of Tulsa, OK; son, Bill Melott of Tulsa, OK; sister, Emily R. Smith of Tulsa, OK; 4 grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Joseph David Melott, 84, of Shawnee, Oklahoma passed away Sunday, December 28, 2014 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was the 11th of 12 children born to Reverend Louis and Mrs. Nellie Hicks Melott in the country near Binger, Oklahoma. Joseph grew up in the Asher and Maud area until he was 13 years old. He took on the responsibility of farming for the family at the age of 11. He left home at the age of 13 to live with his sister in Vinita, Oklahoma. Joseph proudly served his county by enlisting in the Army Air Corp at the age of 15 and spent his 16th, 17th and 18th birthdays inside the Arctic Circle at a place called BW8. He transferred to the Air Force when it was made a separate branch and served his country for 22 ½ years retiring in 1968 with the rank of SMSGT. Joseph served in the Korean conflict and in Spain helping to build a pipeline and served as head of the recruiting office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While serving in the military Joseph earned his Associates Degree. He was awarded the Soldier’s Medal on March 18, 1957 for heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. Upon retiring from the military he went to work for St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa as assistant executive housekeeper and retired at the end of 1989 as executive housekeeper. Joseph married his wife, Eileen Taylor, on August 12, 1967 in Miami, Oklahoma. After retiring from St. Francis he and his wife started traveling and enjoyed visiting all the states except Alaska and Hawaii. He was very active in the Masonic Lodge of Owasso #545, serving as Worshipful Master in 1987. That same year he served as Worthy Patron of Owasso Chapter #511 of the Order of Eastern Star with his wife. Joseph continued to be active in both orders in Tecumseh Masonic Lodge #69 and Shawnee Masonic Lodge #54. He was a member of both Owasso Lodge #545 and Shawnee Composite Lodge; a perpetual member of Owasso Chapter #511 of the Order of Eastern Star. After moving to Shawnee he became active in Tribal activities. He was a proud member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and was very active in forming the CPN Veterans Organization serving as the organization’s third commander. Joseph was a member of the Sharon Baptist Church and enjoyed being with all of his sisters and brothers in the Togetherness Class.
He was preceded in death by his father, Reverend Louis Melott who died at age 96; his mother, Nellie Hicks Melott; sisters, LueBelle Hash, Cordelia Mitchell, Katherine Ferri, Viola Burrow, Thelma Highland and Mary Ruth Bledsoe; and brother, Ben Melott.
Joseph is survived by his wife, Eileen Melott of the home; stepson, Jeff Jackson and wife, Tana of Tulsa, OK; son, Bill Melott of Tulsa, OK; sister, Emily R. Smith of Tulsa, OK; 4 grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Reverend Louis Melott who died at age 96; his mother, Nellie Hicks Melott; sisters, LueBelle Hash, Cordelia Mitchell, Katherine Ferri, Viola Burrow, Thelma Highland and Mary Ruth Bledsoe; and brother, Ben Melott.
Joseph is survived by his wife, Eileen Melott of the home; stepson, Jeff Jackson and wife, Tana of Tulsa, OK; son, Bill Melott of Tulsa, OK; sister, Emily R. Smith of Tulsa, OK; 4 grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
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