Melvin Hargrove

Melvin Edward Hargrove (Mel) passed away with his entire family by his side on Friday, January 21st at Kansas University Hospital due to complications from heart disease. Mel was born August 9th 1952 in Helena, Montana the son of Jack and Marie Nettleton Hargrove. He graduated from Helena High School in Helena Montana in 1970. He attended Carroll College on a full ride football scholarship where he played defensive tackle for the Carroll College Fighting Saints the year they won the Pioneer Bowl. He then pursued his welding career which included underwater welding In Houston TX. After returning to Helena he met Kym Janney, the love of his life and the woman he was married to for 22 years. They later moved to Missoula where he worked as a welder and attended the University of Montana where he received a Bachelor's degree in History. In 1993 he became the proud father of Jack William Hargrove. Mel and Kym resided in Lolo and raised their son there until he was 11. At that time they decided to move to Kansas where Mel's family was. They had a happy life in Kansas where Mel worked at Tower Metal. At that time he had health problems and became semi retired. He enjoyed substitute teaching and later found his passion working for the Linn County Newspaper writing historical articles. Mel's son Jack played for the Pleasanton Blu-Js. Along with being an avid and proud spectator of his son's football team, he also reached out to the rest of the team, giving them positive encouragement. Mel was a happy-go-lucky, people loving person who never met a stranger. He had a great love for history and football, particularly the University of Montana Grizzlies. He loved to go camping and swimming, and Friday night date nights with his wife. He never missed an activity of his son Jack's, and was an extremely proud father. He will be greatly missed by his loving family and the large amount of friends that he made along his life's path. His survived by his wife, Kym, and son Jack of Pleasanton KS; mother Marie Hargrove, of Pleasanton KS, brother John Hargrove (Brenda) of Olathe KS; sister Karen Hargrove of Overland Park, KS; and sister Sherri Gentry (Greg) of Pleasanton KS, sister-in-law Cathy Janney of Missoula MT; brother-in-law Bill Janney of Butte MT; niece Michelle Johnson of Overland Park KS; and nephews Bryon (wendy) and Jeffery (Chelsea) of Shawnee Mission, and nephew Connor Gentry of Pleasanton KS. He also had two great nieces and one soon to be great niece. He is preceded in death by his father, Jack Hargrove of Helena MT, mother-in-law Kay Janney of Missoula MT and father-in-law Bill Janney of Missoula MT. Funeral services will be held 2 PM Wednesday January 26, 2011 at the Coffel-Schneider Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Kansas. Burial will be in the Pleasanton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday the Coffel-Schneider Chapel. The family suggests contributions to the Jack Hargrove College Fund, c/o Farmers State Bank, 901 Main St, Pleasanton KS. On line condolences for the family can be left at www.coffelschneider.com. Arrangements: Coffel-Schneider, Pleasanton, Kansas.