Melvin Delbert Wilkey, 83, of Salt Lake City, Utah passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on June 16, 2023. He was born May 31, 1940, in Nephi, Utah to Fred and Helen Wilkey.
Mel served his two-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Southwest British Mission from 1960-1962. He married Dianne Peterson of Cedar City, Utah on August 10, 1963, in the St. George, Utah Temple. Mel worked for the Church caring for the grounds, then soon found his passion and lifelong career at The Rose Shop. While living in the Hawthorne Ward he served in various positions. His favorite unofficial calling was serving all the widows. He, along with a few others, formed a young marrieds group and today they are still great friends. Mel was literally a friend to everyone. He was very talented. When he wasn’t arranging flowers, he was building floats for parades all over the state, decorating, catering, cooking, quilting, making ceramics, and embroidering dishtowels. He loved sharing his jams, salsas, pickled beets, recipes, dishtowels, and ceramics with everyone. Another great love was our family cabin where he enjoyed spending his summers. Mel always had a great sense of humor, and it continued right up to his last day.
Mel is survived by his wife Dianne, children Jeffrey (Jenifer) Wilkey, Richard (Jazz) Wilkey, Melanie (Darrell) Barton, Lauri (Anthony) Wiser, Glen (Ella) Cly, Darlene Cly from the Navajo Nation, 21 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are made with Larkin Mortuary. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, June 24, 2023, at the old Hawthorne Ward Building, 808 E Roosevelt Avenue. Friends may visit Friday evening, June 23, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E South Temple, Salt Lake City or Saturday 9:00-9:45 am prior to the funeral services. Interment will follow at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E 10600 S, Sandy, Utah.
To virtually attend the services please click on the above "Watch Service" button.
My deepest and most sincere condolences go out to you and your family.
Mel was such a great guy! He always asked how I was and cared about my life even when I was just a little kid running around the Rose Shop! My deepest condolences to his family!
Mel was a friend for over 50 years. He knew how to love and to selflessly serve and care for others. We were recipients many times of his beautiful creations; floral arrangements, ceramics, embroidered dish towels etc. He was always busy, doing for others. We enjoyed his annual Christmas parties for most of the years we knew he and Diane. We will miss him!
The twins learned from the best and have taken great care of their Dad for a long time now. Mel and Diane couldn't have asked for better care.
Our love and condolences to Diane and the kids. We love you! Gary and Susan Johnson
I loved seeing Mel at work for so many years - he always had a smile and made beautiful floral arrangements to take home to my wife. Prayers and condolences to the Wilkey family.
I have lost a dear friend. My love and deepest sympathy to Dianne and to the children. I have very fond memories of our good times together. I hope Mel can help keep Mike in line until I get there to take over.😇
I will miss that "giant of a man". Such a genuine love for others. Every Christmas when I set up my porcelain nativity I think of Mel. I always look forward to visiting with he & Dianne - such a sweet couple.
I will miss Mel coming into Ensign and always stopping by my desk and saying hi and teasing me just a little.
He was a great man.
All I can tell you is the party on the other side is likely out of control. He and the group of life long friends have shown us the way of life and happiness… thank you Mel
Mel was Mr. Rose Shop. What a kind, charitable, Christ-like person. As mentioned in his notice, a friend to all. For those who worked closely with Mel at Larkin Mortuary, how often would we find him working on his "day off" or after hours preparing a "special arrangement" for a neighbor, friend or loved one. He was one of a kind. We love you Mel and missed your regular presence these last few years at 260 as you dealt with your own health issues. You've lived a good, exemplary life . . . which we all would do well to emulate. My best wishes to your family during this difficult time.
Uncle Mel will be greatly missed!!! He was truly a man of Christ like service. All of my family has benefited from his amazing talents!!! He has been a support through all of our triumphs and trials. He was there at every wedding, mission farewell and funeral. He did the food and flowers for mine and my kids weddings. He taught me that the thing that people remember most about a wedding, is the food. But I remember the flowers! He had an amazing talent and his arrangements were always unique and beautiful!! He brought flowers every Memorial Day starting when Grandpa Peterson died. When I was a young girl he made Mother’s Day and Christmas corsages and my sister and I would go door to door and sell them. It was such a fun way for me to earn money. My favorite funny experience was lunch at JB’s restaurant in Cedar City. Uncle Mel was the only male with a table full of women and children. Mom and her sisters were there and Lauri and Melanie. We were all seated at a big table in the middle of the room and I had some of my kids too. Around the outer edge of the table were tables and booths that were empty. A bus full of tourists arrived and the waitress seated the guests in the tables surrounding us. Not long after we heard them talking.about us!! They thought Mel was a polygamist!!!!! Not to disappoint, as we got up to leave the restaurant, Mel got up, put his arm around Aunt Dianne and loudly proclaimed for all in the room to hear “. I am going home with her I sleep with her the most,,”. I never heard him complain about anything but cell phones, , texting and technology. He was truly a “people” person and he served the “one” he loved serving family, friends, his ward family and.veterans in the hospital. And if you weren’t family he made you feel like family. He is loved by all who know him. Thank you to the Wilkey family for all you have done for us!!!! Mel bore testimony of life after death and I look forward to a sweet reunion some day. Our love to Aunt Dianne and all of the Wilkey family.
I will sure miss this wonderful man!
I had the pleasure of working beside Mel at the Rose Shop. His enthusiasm for life and love of people was contagious. I learned a lot about design but even more about life. He shared lots of wisdom and life lessons. Always had a fun joke or story too.
He loved Dianne and his family with all his heart. He loved to feed people and to share. We have enjoyed his delicious jams and have beautiful ceramics he has given our family. We will all miss Mel.
Such fun memories of Mel keeping our stomachs stuffed while on temple trips. Sure love him and Diane! He will be missed
So sorry to hear of Mel's passing. My condolences and love to his family. I had the privilege of working with Mel for a few years at The Rose Shop. His talent, kindness, friendship, generosity, and humor was a delight. He truly touched many hearts and lives for good. I am so grateful to have crossed paths with him and will always remember him as an amazing example of service and friendship.
My memories of Mel started early and continued through weddings and learning so much from him about service and loving people.
We love him and Diane and our love and prayers go out to you and your family.
The reunion with the ‘Young Marrieds’ will be epic!!
Oh how Mell will be missed. He is the Best-and greatest example of a Christ like life. What an example he has been to our family. And will be so missed! Diane and family we love you all. And we are praying for peace.
Dianne, I laughed hard at Mel’s Gambling teaching moments with the Grandkids!!!! 😂 I bet that had him grinning from ear to ear. I had logged off my work from home headset to enjoy my front row zoom seat. I’ve been reminiscing all week … He’s one of those mentors you can’t remember HOW you met because he’d always been in your life 💛
Thank you for a lifetime of friendship with the Lobrot family! We appreciate the Wilkey family and send you our love and sympathy. Mel certainly lived his life well.
Love,
Mark and LaReen Judd
Mel was one of my favorite people, his amazing contagious personality will be truly be missed. I still display my collection of ceramic eggs he gave out every year.
I will deeply miss Mr Wilkey .. I lived 5 houses down at my grandparents house with my mom Leslie Cox and I didn't know of his passing til now and my heart goes out to Mrs Wilkey hope she is doing alright and hanging in there my love and deepest condolences