Josie Iva Melton

Josie Iva Melton passed away on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at her home in Cedaredge, Colorado.  She was 88 years old.  There will be no services, but her ashes will be scattered near Ajo, Arizona.

She was born July 5, 1935, in Chester, Oklahoma to Josie M. Bowers and Arthur Satred Gorrod, the 10^th of 11 children.  Her family moved to Cedaredge when she was about 5 years old, and she graduated from high school there.  She married a local boy, and they had 3 children before they divorced.  She raised her children as a single mom and bought a house in Norwalk, California which was extremely rare and difficult as a single woman at that time.  She later married Russ Melton and they moved to Singapore where he worked.  When Russ retired, they moved to California and back to Cedaredge where they bought her parents’ house.

She enjoyed painting, cooking, and traveling.  Not only did she live in Singapore, but she traveled to Malaysia, New Zealand, Bali, Germany and Austria.  She also enjoyed camping and RV traveling between her houses in California, Arizona and Colorado, and even after Russ passed away, she continued her adventures.  She liked warm places, as cold was not her thing!  She did volunteer work in the VFW, Elks and the Foreign Legion, earning at least one award from them.  Although things changed over the years, she enjoyed fishing, dancing, yard work and gardening and had a green thumb.  She continued RV traveling with her partner, Willi Siegl, until her declining health forced her to stay in Cedaredge.  She especially enjoyed listening to Willi play the harmonica and singing along with him.

She is survived by her loving partner of 17 years, Willibald Siegl, a daughter, Katherine Bohanan-Harsted of Phoenix, Arizona, a son, Gary Bohanan (wife Patti) of Fairbanks, Alaska, 7 grandchildren, Sean Bohanan, Erin Schreck, Bryan Bravo, Brandon Bravo, Eileen DeAngelis, Celia Eddington, and Daryl Bohanan, 24 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, a sister, Belva Harris of Kansas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Russ Melton, her son, Dale Bohanan, her parents, and her siblings, Mary Kay, Mack Gorrod, Walter Gorrod, Lenore Porter, Leslie Gorrod, Virginia Marra, Ione Bowers, Dolly Gorrod, and Fay Gorrod.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.  View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at www.taylorfuneralservice.com where you can add comments or stories about her.