Melvin 'Mel' Wood Dobson, 81
Melvin ‘Mel’ Wood Dobson passed away Thursday, July 21, 2016, at Closer To Home Assisted Living in St. Ignatius.
He was the eighth son, born at home, on Nov. 1, 1934, to Lula and Leon Dobson in Holden, Utah. Holden was his home, on the family farm, until he completed high school.
He was preceded in death by both parents and six brothers, Don, Evan, Myron, Clifford, Earl and Lester Dobson.
Mel was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Mel is survived by his wife, Sunnie Jones Dobson, at their home in Polson; and five children born to his first wife, Carolyn Dobson — Kim M. (Pam) Dobson, and Jeffery Shan, all of Olympia, Washington, Teresa ‘Teri’ Lyn (Hal Enerson) of Port Angeles, Washington, Laurie Ray Correa (Hector) of Murrieta, California, and Darren Scott Dobson (Sondra) of Olympia.
He left three stepsons, Roger B. Hutchins (Myakka) of Cottonwood, Arizona, Bryan C. Hutchins (Jamie) of Whitefish, and Steve Hutchins (Irene) of Columbia Falls. He was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Lowell Dobson (Shirley) of Spanish Fork, Utah, is his only surviving brother.
His career spanned many decades; he was with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for 18 years. Mel then spent over four decades from 1971, as a nationally and internationally recognized professional wildlife artist. He owned Wolfwalker Galleries in Sedona, Arizona, for 15 years, and retired to Polson in 2004.
Mel traveled extensively in East Africa, and he also spent time in the Pantanal of Brazil and visited Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania in Australia. There were many trips to British Columbia and he spent time in the Yukon, Alaska, and Alberta clear to the Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories. His search was always for more knowledge of wildlife and habitats for use in his artwork and that remained his life’s passion.
Per Mel’s request, no services will be held.