Melvin Lee Bacher, 79, of Lahoma, went home to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. His memorial service will be 2:00 pm, Friday, February 23, 2018 at Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home with a graveside service to follow at Memorial Park Cemetery Mausoleum. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 6:00 pm on Thursday, February 22, 2018 at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
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Mel was born on May 31, 1938 to Vera and Christoph Bacher in Pond Creek Oklahoma. He attended Enid Elementary Schools and Longfellow Jr High. He took a job at Blakely Grocery Store(Maine St.) in Enid OK, where he worked with the produce and as a bag boy until he joined the United States Marine Corps in 1956. It was during his time in the Marines that he received his GED. While stationed at Fort Pendleton CA as a mortar man Mel met Norma Mae Kemp. The two were married on January 6, 1959. Later that May Mel transferred to the USMC Reserve for another 3 years before being honorably discharged as a Sergeant. The couple and their new daughter moved back to Enid Oklahoma in 1960 and Mel took a job working for Fargas and the Coop. While working for them, Mel worked in and moved to Enid, Manchester and Carrier OK and his family continued to grow, having two more daughters and a son. Mel was always very industrious and was never one to shy away from a hard days work. He and Norma (with the help of his family) owned and operated a restaurant called Mel’s Place in Manchester and even a small service station, the Broadway DX, in Enid with his oldest daughter and his son. In 1980 Mel and his youngest 3 children settled in Lahoma, OK. Upon his retirement from the Coop, Mel went into the oilfield production industry where he worked for various companies, before starting his own company, Plunger Lift. In addition to working for the oilfield, Mel had a small car lot on an empty lot on the corner in Lahoma. . He named it after his son, Randy’s Auto Sales. Continuing in the tradition of family-oriented businesses in 1999 Mel, Melvia and Randy purchased a building and property in Lahoma and together ran 3 businesses in one; Randy’s Auto Sales, Randy’s Paint and Body, and Plunger Lift. Although not always easy, the three worked hard side by side. Through his years in business Mel was always one to give second chances, a hand up, and a job to those willing to work hard and learn to better themselves. Mel retired from the oilfield in 2004 but continued to sell vehicles. He was probably one of the only honest car salesmen out there!
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Mel was a very busy man but he always made time for those things in his life which he loved. Whether it be working along side his family, or giving a good friend a hard time with his many jokes and jests or out coyote hunting, you could always count on him to bring a smile to your face and leave you with a lasting memory. He spent many a winters out coyote hunting, a pastime he began in 1960. During those times, he made many friends. He loved to hunt and having someone along for the ride made it that much better. He took friends, Norma, his kids, grandkids and even his great grand kids, sharing his passion and making memories we wont soon forget. If you knew Mel, you understood he was quite the character, and had an opinion about everything. Whether you agreed with him or not, he wasn’t afraid to tell you(or the town) where he stood. He was involved in local politics, an avid outdoorsman and coyote hunter, but most of all he was a great friend who will be sorely missed.
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Mel is survived by his wife, Norma, of the home; his son-in-law Barney Keith, of Lahoma; daughter Christy Nusz and husband Rick of Shawnee KS; daughter Tracie Rivera and husband Eddie of Choctaw OK; son Randy Bacher and wife Jonnie of Enid, OK; brother Chris Bacher of Uvalde TX; sister Edna Cambell of Enid OK; 12 Grandchildren; 11 Great-grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
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He was preceded in death by his daughter Melvia Keith, his sister Helen Sue Decker, brother Robert Hudson, brother David Hudson, 2 brothers who died shortly after their birth, and his parents.
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Memorials in Melvin’s name may be made to Loaves & Fishes with Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home serving as custodian of the funds.
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Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
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