Donald Levoy Mecham

Donald L. Mecham, 90, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed peacefully among his sweet wife and children on January 23, 2020, at Idaho Falls Community Hospital. Although his family cries many tears for our loss, we know he had a great and joyful reunion in heaven with his loved ones who went before him.

Don was born June 7, 1929, in Firth, Idaho, to Elvin Charles "Bob" and Barbara Ellen "Nellie" Stutznegger Mecham. He was the fifth of eleven children. Being raised on the farm in the rural areas around Blackfoot, he had many stories to tell of love, laughter, and hard work. He loved those days and spoke of his memories from the farm fondly and often.

In January of 1951, he was inducted into the army and served in Panama during the Korean conflict. After returning home in '52 he used the GI Bill to go to college and studied Civil Engineering at the University of Idaho. He spent his career with the Idaho Transportation Department in Pocatello and Rigby as a Roadway Engineer, where he designed and/or built much of Interstate 15 and US Highway 20 from Pocatello to Island Park. He left his mark and was well respected by his colleagues.

Shortly before graduating from U of I, he met his sweetheart, Helen Margaret Lyman, of Pocatello. After a bit of a long-distance relationship, they married on August 22, 1958, in the Idaho Falls Temple for time and all eternity. They met because of their mutual love of dancing, and they danced together until they couldn't anymore. They built a home and family together in Pocatello and later in Rigby. He has always been his kids’ and grandkids’ hero because of his quiet demeanor and strong work ethic. He always had advice worth considering and was usually right. We will miss his calming presence in our lives.

Don was proceeded in death by his parents, his brothers Elvin and Jim Mecham, several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, and his great granddaughter, Olivia Johnson. He is survived by his children, Donald "Donnie" (Kate) Mecham of Moscow, ID, Barbara (Stan) Millard of Idaho Falls, Gary (Patty) Mecham of Shelley, Ken (Gerri) Mecham of Idaho Falls, and Jeanne (Jerred) Bailey of Ammon; 17 grandchildren, and 26 great grandchildren; as well as his six sisters and two youngest brothers and their spouses. Family was always his greatest joy, and we are blessed to have many extended family members who love him forever.

The family would like to thank the ladies from Briarwood Assisted Living who took such amazing care of our Dad in the last few months of his life, as well as the doctors and nurses at Community Hospital for the loving care they provided the last week.  He loved you all, and we are so grateful for all that you have done for him and our mother.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Love Like Liv Memorial Scholarship Fund at Westmark Credit Union.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at the Ammon 34th Ward, 4030 John Adams Parkway with Bishop Christian Taylor officiating. The family will visit with friends Monday from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road in Ammon, and Tuesday from 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be at 1:45 p.m. in Restlawn Memorial Garden in Pocatello.