Jay Melville

Anchorage resident Jay R. Melville, 61, died peace- fully Sept. 19, 2003, at Alaska Regional Hospital while surrounded by his family. His family wrote that he fought "a valiant bat- tle with lung
cancer."
Services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Baha'i Center, 1207 E. 74th Ave.

Mr. Melville was born Dec. 7, 1941, the morning of the attack on Pearl Harbor, in Fairbanks to John and Evolyn Melville. He was raised in Fair- banks and Fort Yukon, moving back to Fairbanks to live with his grandparents, Forbes and Hertha Baker, for his high school years. He graduated in 1959 from Lathrop High School.
In December 1962, he married Jadine Berdahl and moved to Clear to work at First National Bank of Fairbanks' branch office as its manager. Mr. Melville worked as a bank- er, lodge owner, excavating contractor, real estate agent and insurance agent. He start- ed with First National while in high school, later working at Alaska State Bank in Anchor- age. He and Jadine operated the Circle Hot Springs resort and the Talkeetna Roadhouse between time spent in Anchor- age and Fairbanks.

His family wrote: "Growing up in Fort Yukon, Jay learned to appreciate the village way of life, working with his dad and mom running Melville's Roadhouse, mushing and training dogs to help with the many rural chores. He learned carpentry, plumbing, electrical and other necessary trades, as well as how to bake bread and yummy cinnamon rolls, all of which stood him in good stead when operating the lodges. The shining lights in Jay's life were family, friends, flying and his participation in the Baha'i faith. He was always willing to lend a helping hand."
Mr. Melville is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jadine; daughters, Donna Becker, Carrie and Michelle Melville, and Kris Melville-Woo; grand- children, Amber, Terryll and Samantha Becker, Jeffrey and Jaclyn Havel; and great-grand- children, Hayleigh and Charles Jones; mother, Evolyn Melville; sister and brother-in-law, Hila- ry and Gene Freeman; brother, Ken and his children, Alaina, David and Katrese Melville; and many other relatives. Memorial donations may be made to the Alaska Chapter of the American Cancer or Lung Association or the charity of the donor's choice.