Melvin L. Barrett

Melvin L. Barrett was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Clarence and Irene (Andrews) Barrett on September 8, 1927. Like others coming of age during the Great Depression and World War II, Melvin was shaped by the values of duty and sacrifice that put him in the company of others who have been called “The Greatest Generation.”

Melvin was the fourth of nine children, growing up in the southeast region of the city called Home Acres. Their home was located between 40th and 44th Streets on plot of land that was large enough to contain a huge garden from which they harvested everything, including cotton. The family’s self sufficiency was especially helpful when Melvin’s father was injured on his job with the railroad. Though they always had enough to eat, the hardship meant that others in the family had to work together to provide for one another. Melvin’s mom worked as a seamstress in addition to caring for the family, and he and his siblings readily pitched in to help.

Melvin attended Kelloggsville Public Schools from elementary to high school. He was a good athlete, especially in baseball, and at one point had the opportunity to try out for the pros. But his sense of responsibility superseded his own interests, and Melvin left school after 11th grade and went to work for General Motors and Kelvinator. At the very time that he would have had to go to Chicago to try out for the big leagues, Melvin enlisted in the U.S. Army instead. So did several of his brothers. They made the choice because their military service would bring more money to the family. That’s the selfless way Melvin lived his life.

Upon his return from military duty in 1948, Melvin’s future was made all the brighter by a young woman he met. Mutual friends introduced him to Helen “Brownie” Brown, who lived on Cass Avenue. Along with her friends who lived across the street, she was one of the Cass Avenue Beauties, as they called themselves. Melvin was attracted enough to Helen to ask her for a date, and because his sense of humor and quick wit attracted her enough, the two of them decided a second date was in order. Things started to take off after that. Though they dated and sometimes went to movies, they didn’t get to see each other that often because they both worked and she lived in the city and he in the country. Still, they became very close, and after dating for a short while, Melvin and Helen married on July 30, 1948 at a Methodist church in Muskegon, Michigan. Their jobs prevented them from going on a honeymoon at the time, but the newlyweds were off to a good start.

While Helen was employed with Kelvinator, Melvin worked as a lineman for the electric company. His job moved them to Wisconsin, then Evart, Michigan and eventually back to Grand Rapids, where they lived with Helen’s mother after her father had died. Within two years, they moved to the north end of town and made room for their growing family.

Already a year before they moved, Melvin and Helen were delighted by the births of twin sons, Tom and Ted in 1949. Unfortunately, Melvin was laid off from work the very same day they were born. But he was resilient and found a job drilling wells with Raymer and Stovall Companies, that provided him with security for the next 53 years.

Melvin and Helen’s family grew with the births of three more sons: Jim in 1951, Scott in 1954, and Mark in 1963. Melvin was a great dad with a big heart. He balanced firm expectations with all out fun. For example, when Melvin whistled for dinner, the boys knew they had just one minute to get there. He insisted they eat dinner together and that they always clean their plates. The next minute, Melvin was out playing baseball with his sons, and having been a “near professional,” he wasn’t easy on them. He played as hard as they did, and on one occasion, threw a football through the window like nearly every sports-minded kid has done.

Hard-driving Melvin was a car enthusiast and got his sons interested as well. He had a ‘62 Plymouth Commando that he called the Gray Ghost. Not surprisingly, he also liked hunting and fishing—mostly birds and small game—and a trip up north was the best.

For many years, Melvin bowled on a league for Berlin Oil, and throughout his life, he watched and listened to the Detroit Lions and the Tigers simultaneously. A common scene during game time was Melvin sitting in the living room with a radio on the floor and TV on a stand so he could keep track of both scores at the same time. His kids laughed to see him, because they were quite sure he did it to tune out the household noise around him.

As a family, the Barretts regularly visited their uncles and aunts—Ray and Betty, Velma and Charlie—who lived in the country where the kids could run free. They took two family vacations during the summer, a week at the beginning and one at the end, but Melvin only took one. For the other week, the family camped nearby so that he could come from work each evening to relax with his family in the great outdoors. Because family meant a lot to Melvin, he enjoyed every picnic or reunion that brought them all together.

After Melvin officially retired, he never really stopped drilling wells, but he and Helen took more time to travel. They went to California to see her sister, to Arizona to visit an uncle, and to Texas to stay with his brother. A time or two, they went to the casino but more often to Pine Lake, where they could boat and Melvin could fish. Life relaxed into a rhythm of doing what he most enjoyed, like watching Wheel of Fortune and Dancing with the Stars with Helen; driving down to Mr. Burger on Northland Drive and having coffee with the boys every morning; listening to country music; dining on wild game, meat and potatoes. It was the simple things of life that gave most pleasure: time with family and an opportunity to help others.

Mr. Melvin L. Barrett, aged 82 of Grand Rapids, passed away on September 13, 2009. His beloved family will miss him even as they fondly remember all that made him a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend.

Melvin’s family includes Helen, his wife of 61 years; sons, Tom (Sharon) Barrett, Ted Barrett, James (Sherree) Barrett, Scott Barrett, and Mark (Jenny) Barrett; 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. Also surviving are his siblings, Lionel (Jeanette) Barrett, Ernest (Olga) Barrett, Stanley Barrett, Velma (Charles) Burden, Grace (Gib) Merkle and Dorothy (Jim) Kunard; sisters-in-law, Florence Minier and Margaret Rodomski of CA; uncle, Lawson Barrett of AZ; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Raymond (Betty) Barrett and Floyd Barrett.

A celebration of his life will be held at 4 PM on Saturday at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Friends may visit with his family from 4-7 PM on Friday at the funeral home. Contributions in his memory to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital or Hospice of Michigan would be appreciated. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to archive a memory or photo of Melvin or to sign the guestbook if you are unable to attend.