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July 21, 1934 - May 29, 2021
It is with great sadness and much love we announce the sudden passing of our dad, gramps, great gramps, brother, uncle and friend Mel McEachern on Saturday, May 29, 2021, in Chilliwack General Hospital.
Mel will be greatly missed by his girls Kim (Rueben Wright) Tracey (Mark Reichelt), and Teri. He is leaving behind an abundance of wonderful memories for his grandchildren. Justin Porter (Jade), Mike Porter (Sarah), Josh Reichelt and Clinton Chadsey, as well as his great-grandchildren Bailey and Liam Porter (Justin) and Jax Porter (Mike), his brother Robert McEachern (Doris), several nieces and nephews and many great friends.
Mel was predeceased by his parents, Harry and Lillian McEachern, his brother Wes McEachern and his beloved wife, Helen.
Mel was born in Chilliwack on the family farm on Bailey Road, and he made Chilliwack his home for his entire life. Mel was a hardworking man, choosing logging and farming for occupations.
He started in the logging industry at the young age of 16. He was a faller, a truck driver, a grapple operator, and superintendent during his logging days, plus jobs we might not even know of.
In 1972, after 22 years of logging, Mel decided to join the family farm business. He brought the farm through a transition of milking 30 cows to milking around 100. Unfortunately, Mel had a farming accident in 1988, and this leads him to retire from farming. Mel was never really ready to withdraw from farming altogether, and he continued to assist with the baling of hay.
Mel and Helen started a new chapter of their life after full-time farming and took up lake fishing at Sheridan Lake. Mel was so proud of his fishing partner Helen. After Helen passed in 2011, Mel went back to Sheridan Lake for a few years, but he missed his fishing buddy.
In the last few years, Mel enjoyed meeting his friends for their daily coffee at Safeway, but due to Covid he would meet his buddy Jim at the mall parking lot. He also loved going out to dinner with friends and family. Memories were created from visits with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and having his grandson as a roommate.
Mel was a good man and made friends wherever he went. He was always up to tell a good story (sometimes colourful) or debate a passionate subject. Mel was a devoted Montreal Canadiens fan, and he enjoyed the rivalry with any non-Habs fan.
Mel's love of his family and the enjoyment he received from his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were indeed the foundation of his life.
Gone but not forgotten.
Donations may be made to the "Make a Wish" Foundation.
Due to health regulations, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.


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