Melvin Ray Gilbert

Melvin Ray Gilbert, husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away on August 31st, 2026 in Logan Utah at the age of 96.

He was born on August 24th, 1930 in Logan, Utah to Melvin Charles and Dorthy Hall Gilbert. They were happy to have a son to carry on the family name. He was the oldest of three children and had one sister and one brother. They raised him in Lewiston Utah on a dairy farm. He grew up in Lewiston and attended Lewiston Elementary, Lewiston Junior High and then graduating North Cache High School in Richmond Utah in 1948. Dad had many fond memories growing up on the farm and working with his father. Sometimes when we were wasting time by sitting around he would tell me some of the funny things that happened. When he was quite young he said he remembers his mother giving his sister Karla a bath and they had an earthquake it emptied most of the water out of the tub. Dad was a little mischievous growing up as a teenager. Another story that he would tell me a lot was a lady in their ward and her young son came to visit his mother. While she was in the house dad put one of these M80 firecrackers in her car. They are not legal anymore but they were almost like a small sounding bomb and really smoked a lot when lit. When she come out and got in her car it went off and she thought the car was going to blow up. She threw her son out the car window. Everytime he told me that I could picture seeing it happen for my self. He said he laughed and laughed about that. Of course it didn't go very well with his parents. 

Dad had a very early interest in flying and airplanes. When he was about 3 to 5 years old when he was outside and an airplane would fly over he would think to himself that is something he wanted to do. He started with flying lessons at 14 years old. His mother would pick him up from school a couple times a week and drive him to Logan to the old Hill Top Airport by Utah State University above Logan and he would have his flying lesson while she waited in the car. The FAA requires a person to be 16 years of age before flying an airplane solo. He soloed when was 16 and then had to wait to obtain his license until he was 17 because of the FAA regulations once again. Dad owned 7 different airplanes through the years. I have a lot of fond memories of flying with him. 

Dad married Carolyn Rasmussen of Richmond, Utah on July 22nd, 1955 in the Logan LDS Temple. He said he thought Carolyn was cute and fun. They dated for about a year and a half. They were married for 65 years and had many adventures together. They had three children myself Todd, Cindy and Trudy. They continued to live in Lewiston on the farm until they moved to Logan in 2008.

Dad was a faithful and active member of The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings in the church which included: Sunday School Presidencies, First Councilor in the Bishopric, a member of the Stake High Council and was a veil worker in the Logan Temple for many years. When we would get together with him he would often bore a strong testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and tell us to all live our lives in the Gospel. He would also relate some of his spiritual experiences to us that he had. They were inspiring to us as a family. 

Dad said there are three decisions that he is glad he made: Marrying Carolyn, learning to fly and keeping up with farming until he couldn't do it any more. It taught him how to work hard.

He is survived by his children: a son Todd Ray (Alice) of Rexburg, Idaho. Two daughters Cindy Lee (Val) Gunnell of Richmond, Utah and Trudy Ann (Brad) Seamons of Hyde Park, Utah and 13 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Dorthy, a sister Karla Cottrell and a brother Brice Gilbert. I can only imagine the reunion he has had with them.

Dad was able to live on his own and take care of himself until the last 3 years in which he lived at Sunshine Terrace. Dad, we are proud to be your family and we will miss you every day. We thank you for everything you taught us and did for us. Dad, we Love You.

There will be a graveside service at 12 noon on Friday September 4th at the Lewiston Utah Cemetery.