May 19, 1946 - January 31, 2021
Melton Ambert Larkey was born May 19, 1946 in Los Angeles, CA. He was raised by his dad, Basil Larkey and step-mom Era Mae Larkey in San Andreas, CA. He was adventurous and industrious as a child and recounted stories of roaming the hills and town, collecting bottles to turn in for change to buy candy. He attended and graduated Calaveras High School with high marks and joined the Air Force. While serving in the Air Force he attended Syracuse University in New York where he studied Foreign Language and Communication. Mel was a very devoted son and always made sure his mom EraMae was well taken care of after his father passed away. He also attended and graduated from San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton, CA where he met his wife Susan Larkey. Mel and Susan had two children, Melody and Wade, who became the joy and focus of Mel’s life. Mel loved to spend his free time taking the kids to do fun activities such as visits to the ocean, Half Moon Bay, the American River in Sacramento for rafting, and swimming in melted snow water in the Jackson foothills. He was young at heart and enjoyed playing right alongside the kids. Every Spring and Summer he would take the family to visit his aunt in Long Beach and to enjoy different amusement parks in southern California. Mel had a great sense of adventure and loved the outdoors. He would take the back road any chance he got just to explore and see the countryside. He enjoyed mechanics and loved working on and restoring his MG sports cars. He appreciated the simple things in life and often took drives just to watch the sunset.
Mel was very friendly and could strike up a conversation with almost anyone he met. He was known for being a very intellectual person and loved a good crossword puzzle. He was also very athletic and loved to play and watch basketball. After retiring from his career working at the post office, Mel relocated from Stockton, CA to the Sacramento area where he spent much of his time attending drive in movies, going out to eat, and exploring the beauty of the California countryside. He also attended Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Citrus Heights where he was baptized by Pastor Braden Barnum. Mel was preceded in death by his older sister Janet Larkey and his younger brother George Larkey. Mel is survived by his younger sister Marlene Juarez and younger brother Steve Larkey as well as his children Melody Lopez and Wade Larkey, his grand-sons Antonio Lopez and Roberto Lopez and many nieces and nephews. He entered into rest on January 31, 2021 in Lodi, CA. He will greatly be missed by his family and friends.
GRAVESIDE SERVICE
A graveside service will be held at 1:30pm on Thursday February 11, 2021 at at Cherokee Memorial Park, located off Highway 99 at Harney Lane, Lodi CA, 95240.
Link to a YouTube picture video slide show: https://youtu.be/kj5osfhmEEY.
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Cherokee Memorial is honored to serve the Larkey family..
