Clarence Melvin "Mel" Lepper, 79, passed away Wednesday, November 5, at Hospice of Northern Colorado, after his two year battle with acute myeloid leukemia. He was born January 19, 1935, in Liberty, Illinois to Clarence and Irene (Linker) Lepper. Mel graduated in 1952 from Payson High School in Payson, Illinois and in later years attended night school for 16 years to receive his degree from Colorado University. Following high school he worked at the grain elevator in Hull, Illinois. In 1957, he joined the Air Force and was assigned to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a Tech Sergeant. After the service he worked on the Titan 1 Missile Program in Colorado, Idaho and Later for Rockadyne in Canoga Park California. In 1965, Mel went to work for the Department of the Interior as a Physical Scientist in research for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. After 30 years he retired from the government and in 1995 he and his wife Shirley moved from Boulder to the Jackson Lake area and raised Texas Longhorn Cattle and farmed two pivots. Mel was an elder in the Weldon Valley Presbyterian Church. He was a lifetime member of the local American Legion and a member of the Masonic Temple for 55 years. He is survived by his wife Shirley; his daughter, Linda Oglesbee and step children, Richard Harrison and Cynthia Laraway; three grandchildren, Kelsey, Kourtney and Colton Oglesbee; six step grandchildren; and one great grandson, Aydain. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 10th at 11:00 AM at Weldon Valley Presbyterian Church in Goodrich, CO. Services will conclude at the church.