Melvin Lewis West, age 61, beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on May 21st, 2026. Mel was born in Ontario, California on December 27, 1964 to Louie and Toni West. Mel's family moved to Show Low when he was in the 3rd grade.

Mel and his wife Peggy met in highschool when Mel stole the belt out of her sweater to get her attention. They became sweethearts and would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this coming November.

Mel was a man of many talents. He started working for the City of Show Low in 1997. Within a year he became a full time employee and was instrumental in making City 4 TV a full fledged television station. Mel taught himself how to produce and manage a TV station, learning video production, sound, lighting, and mixing. He created in studio programs such as “My Sister Can't Cook” and “ Pet Allies”. During the Rodeo-Chediski fire, because of his relationship with local law enforcement, he was granted freedom to travel within the restricted areas and provide footage and information to the major national stations that were here covering the fire. He instituted live television broadcasts of the 4th of July parade and local high school sports. He was a talented video creator and won awards for some of his video productions.

Mel was passionate about helping the youth in the community learn audio-video production. His daughters remember him bringing equipment into their 6th grade classes and teaching them how to conduct live interviews. In 2005 Mel partnered with Show Low High School to help them create a Media Production class, even helping the instructor with the teaching of the class. Mel developed a relationship with iTalk radio and Camden Smith to create the White Mountain Youth Productions organization which gave students from Show Low, Blue Ridge, and Snowflake experience in live sports production. Many of those students have gone on to work in the media production field. After retiring from the City of Show Low he traveled around the country making videos for the non-profit “Sleep in Heavenly Peace”.

He was a very talented racquetball player winning state and national tournaments, with his partner Lisa Bu winning a World Championship title in the over 50 mixed doubles category. He was sad when pickleball became more popular than racquetball, but he embraced it and enjoyed the pickleball community.

Although Mel would have been excited to mentor his daughters in racquetball, their passion was being on the dance team in Junior High and High School. They may have gotten this passion from their dad as well. His daughters remember him pushing the kitchen table to one side of the room so that they could 2-step with their dad to some Brooks and Dunn. Mel spent countless hours filming their preformances, mixing music, and making a highlight video for them and their teammates at the end of every year. He was very proud of their accomplishments.

Mel loved to fish and spend time with his grandkids. Whenever grandkids were around, you can be sure the Mel would be right in the middle of whatever they were doing. Sometimes the grownups had to tell him to settle down.

Mel is survived by his wife Peggy Fish West, his daughter Aliesha (Shane) Willoughby, with grandkids Bryce, Lilly, Harper, and Mason, and bonus grandkids Hailey, Max and Mason; and daughter Teanna (Brendon) Fisher, with grandkids Oliver Lewis, Jemma, Thea, and Grasyn; his mother Toni Maryland McGavock West, and his brother Dean Michael West. He was preceded in death by his father Calvin Lewis “Louie” West Jr. As a family we would like to thank the community for the outpouring of love.