Melvin L. Harbison, Sr

Melvin Leslie Harbison Sr. passed away on December 2, 2015 at 5:00 am. He was 89 years old. To speak of being a local (or as they say native) of this beautiful area is something to be proud of to say the least. All though, my grandfather Mr. Harbison was definitely one of the original natives. He was born the first day of spring March 21, 1926 in a homestead barn right off Cocolalla Creek in Westmond. That building has long since been gone. Grandpa Mel was the youngest of 7 children (5 brothers and 2 sisters) their parents were Cyrus Wilfred Harbison and Gertrude Mildred Johnson both hard working 7th Day Adventist. My grandpa as a boy attended a 7th Day Adventist school K through 8th grade (a block or so from where the present courthouse is today) then went on to graduate high school at the old 9th grade center. Not much later Grandpa Mel got a job as a fire lookout at Talache Mountain, he loved it up there and talked about it quite often. Then he landed a better job working for the old power house as a lineman. Soon enough a lady caught his eye and her name was Virginia Agnes Pomerinke but was known as Vera. Grandma Vera who then already had 5 kids of her own from another marriage. That didn’t stop grandpa he fell in love with Grandma Vera and they were married soon after on December 8, 1948 at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’ Alene. Money was tight back then so my Grandpa packed everybody up and moved to the Seattle area where he could make a better living for him and his new family. Later on 4 more children came along. It was hard times with 9 kids to feed and clothe. That’s when my grandpa landed a great job starting work at Boeing around the time the business was just starting out. Grandpa Mel started at the bottom and over 36 years went right to the top earning numerous awards and promotions until he retired in 1987. He was 57. After that Mel and Vera moved back to Idaho to start one of Grandpa’s passions, mining. He invested and bought gold claims in 1982 in Murray and Pritchard, Idaho. They bought a country home there and started washing dirt (lots of it) for gold in 1987. After some time my German grandma decided it was time to relax so they moved to Hayden Lake and bought a house there where they lived for some time until the moved back home to Sandpoint. On February 21, 2000 tragedy struck our family when my grandparents were hit by a semi-truck in the Rathdrum Prairie. A freak accident killing my grandmother instantly, and severely injuring my Grandpa badly. Needless to say, it devastated our family, my grandma was like the glue to our family. My Grandpa Mel Sr. recovered very slowly but not completely having permanent damage to his equilibrium and never fully regaining his balance. But through it all Grandpa lived on and he lived a full healthy God filled life. Grandfather Mel has countless grandchildren and almost as many great grandchildren. I asked my younger brother Gerod Buck to say some words about Grandpa (little brother doesn’t talk much), but what he said brought a tear to my eye. So to quote what he said “Grandpas hugs were big medicine” and he is right he gave wonderful hugs! He was the most gentle, patient man I have ever known. He loved hunting and fishing and always was the best at decorating for all holidays. He was a great musician and played the drums in a couple bands back in the day. A master electrician, and could fix just about anything. His faith in the Lord was staggering this man was, is and always will be a beautiful soul! There was no one like him. Grandpa Melvin Harbison will be laid to rest next to his wife Vera at Westmond Cemetery, there will be a funeral service held on December 12, 2015, Saturday, at 11:00 am in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel, all is welcome to come and show their respects and to honor this man. Grandfather Mel will be missed by many and shall remain in our hearts forever. May he rest in peace with his wife Vera at his side. God bless you Grandpa we all love you. Melvin Harbison Sr. is survived by 9 children and 24 grandchildren and many great grandchildren WOW!!!