Melvin Gauley, age 85, of Grinnell, died on Friday, April 20, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A celebration of his life will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell. Interment with military honors will be at Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell. Visitation will held prior to his service beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be designated to Easter Seals of Iowa or to Grinnell Regional Hospice, sent in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com. Melvin was born the youngest of seven children to James and Harriett (Armstrong) Gauley on July 7, 1926 on the family farm east of Montezuma, Iowa. He attended country school through eighth grade and then attended high school in Deep River and Millersburg. He graduated from Millersburg High School with the class of 1944. He honorably served in the United States Army from 1950 until 1952. On September 28, 1953, he was united in marriage to La Reta Rupp of Lynnville at the United Methodist Church in Montezuma, Iowa. To this union was born their son, Dennis. Melvin worked at Midwest-One Minute Factory in Kellogg for twenty-five years as an assembly and shipping clerk. They later moved to Oskaloosa, where they owned and operated the Oskaloosa Motel for three years. For over forty years, Melvin had worked part-time and full-time as a salesman for the Electrolux Corporation. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Grinnell American Legion and the Odd Fellows in Grinnell. His dearly loved his family and his enjoyments included visiting with his friends, traveling, cars, motorcycles, and woodworking He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. Melvin is survived by his son, Dennis (Barbara) Gauley of Ankeny, Iowa; and his four sisters, Clara McMeekin, Mildred King, Eunice Martin, and Margaret Reid. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, La Reta Gauley on March 17, 2008; and his brothers, Elmer and Bob.