Melvin E. Scott Sr., 71

HARRINGTON - Melvin E. Scott Sr., departed this life on Saturday, June 13, 2009, in the Delaware Hospice Center, Milford, after a long illness. He was 71. He was born July 15, 1937, in Harrington, to the late Edith and Wayman Scott Sr. Melvin attended elementary school at Reeves Crossing in Felton and William Henry High School in Dover. Early in his life, he enjoyed traveling up and down the East Coast with Herman Brown working with the race horses. Melvin also worked as a plumber and a construction worker. For two years, Melvin served his country as a military policeman and was stationed in Illinois. He worked as a custodian in the Lake Forest School District from 1978 until his retirement in 1999 after 21 years of service. In 1960, he married Mary Ann (Midge) Taylor. They were blessed with five children. Melvin was raised in a Christian home, and later accepted Christ as his Savoir. Melvin enjoyed people. He was jovial and had a very distinct sense of humor. Melvin was preceded in death by one son, Marvin (Shay). He is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; two daughters, Sophia (Soda-Pop) LaSalle (Henry) of Frederica, and Gwendolyn (Yvette) of Harrington; two sons, Melvin Jr. (Charlie Boy) of Salisbury, Md., and Wayne Sr. (Marcella) of Seaford; seven grandchildren, Chantay, Henry Jr., Wayne Jr., Marvin, Monique, Chanae, and Jarel; six great-grandchildren, Wanýe, Nasir, Solé, Jalil, Desmond and DáVear; one god-child, Dr. Gwendolyn Scott-Jones; four brothers, Lester (Alberta) of Dover, William (Mary) of Smyrna, Lewis (Annette) of Ridgely, Md., and Daniel (Nancy) of Laurel, Md.; two sisters, Margaret Scott Bowers of Dover, and Edith Scott Berry of Philadelphia, Pa.; two sisters-in-law, Nova Scott and Lowan Scott; two brothers-in-law, George Taylor (Catherine) and Raymond Taylor; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, June 20, 2009 at St. Stevens Episcopal Church, 198 Raughley Hill Rd., Harrington. Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Home.