Elbert Melvin Mothershead

Elbert M. Mothershead

“Papa Mel”

Mel was born in Raymond, WA on August 27, 1934, and passed away peacefully on December 10, 2022, in Puyallup, WA with his wife Evelyn and two grandsons by his side. 

Mel graduated from Bethel High School in June 1953. While in High School he played football, was president of the FFA, member of the 4-H club and Graham Juvenile Grange. 

Mel met his life soul mate, Evelyn Nadine Thieman, from Buckley, WA, in April 1954 when she was a freshman at White River High School. Upon her high school graduation, they were married in the Sumner, WA, First Christian Church on June 1, 1957, and were married for 65 ½ years.

In August 1953 he began his career with the J.C. Penney Co. He started in the old J.C. Penney store in, downtown Puyallup sweeping floors and advanced to managing the stock room. Later he advanced to Salesclerk, then Department Manager. He earned his first promotion up the corporate ladder in 1957, when he was transferred to the Auburn, WA J.C. Penney store as Assistant Manager.He remained in Auburn until 1961 when he was transferred to a brand-new store in Lake Oswego, OR, again as Assistant Manager. From Lake Oswego, he was transferred to Vancouver, WA, and received his first promotion as a store manager to Raymond, WA in 1965.From Raymond, he managed stores in Yreka, CA, from 1971 to 1975, The Dalles, OR, from 1975 to 1980, Linda, CA, from 1980 to 1982, West Seattle, WA, from 1982 to 1987, when he was then transferred to Snohomish, WA, where he retired from the company after 42 1/2 years, in 1995. 

Throughout his career, he was always active in service clubs such as Rotary, where he earned the Paul Harris Fellowship award, Kiwanis, and Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Graham Grange and later transferred membership to the Marion Grange in Buckley, WA. Mel served 8 years in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and socially belonged to the Eagles, Elks and Moose clubs.

His passions included gardening, traveling, fishing, and time with friends, family.  Being a Papa to two grandchildren) and four Great Grands gave him such joy.  

Has was predeceased by his children, Deborah and Douglas Mothershead; his parents, Elbert W. and Sylvia Mothershead; his brothers, Jesse, Richard, and William; father and mother-in-law, Raymond and Helen Thieman; as well as many extended family members.

Mel is survived by his wife, Evelyn, grandsons Christopher D. Mothershead (Lindsey) and Aaron M. Mothershead (girlfriend Jessi), and great-grandchildren, Kendall, Kameron, Maizie and Easton.

 He is also survived by his sisters, Ethel Allen (John) and Edna Coonc, sister-in-law, Charlotte Mothershead, sister and brother-in-law, Louise and Lee Cope, and an extended family of nieces and nephews and their families.

Services to be held Wednesday December 21, 2022 at Weeks Funeral Home, Buckley WA at 11am with viewing prior and reception to follow at Buckley Eagles.

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