LORENZO — Mell Douglas Cherry, 93, departed his life on Saturday, March 24, 2012 at the Ralls Nursing Home with his family at his side. Celebration of his life is planned for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at graveside at the Lorenzo Cemetery with Tom Brian, nephew, officiating, under the direction of the Adams Funeral Home. Visitation for friends and family will be from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at Adams Funeral Home in Lorenzo.
Mell was born July 30, 1918, in Tolar, Texas, and came to the South Plains with his family in 1924 to settle in the Estacado community where the Cherry family first farmed the Lynn Place. He attended grade school in Estacado where he and his siblings rode horses to get to school each day. Later the family bought a farm near where is now known as the Pleasant Hill area northeast of Lorenzo. After graduating from Lorenzo High School in 1936, Mell attended Texas Tech College during the Great Depression. He financed his education by tending sheep on the college farm while working in the Tech dairy manufacturing plant and delivering milk to its customers. Years later he completed his degree in agriculture at Tech and graduated in 1970 which was the year the tornado hit Lubbock. Because of the damage, there was no graduation ceremony.
During Mell's senior year at Tech, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 and was based at Snetterton Heath in England where he was stationed until after WWII was over in 1945 in Europe. He served with the 8th Air Force 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron and maintained the top secret Norden Bomb Sites for B-17 bombers and also flew missions to Italy and Russia. He received a bronze medal. He sailed to Europe on the Queen Elizabeth and returned home on the Queen Mary in June 1945.
After returning to the U.S. in 1945, he taught vocational agriculture and Veterans agriculture in Johnstown, Colorado. He returned to Lorenzo to farm the Cherry Farm until his retirement.
During his farming years he was active in Farmer's Union, served on the Pleasant Hill Co-op Gin Board, Crosby County Fuel Association Board, and was president of South Plains Electric Co-op Board of Directors.
Mell was always the advocate for the small American Family Farmer. During the late 1970's he was Wagon Master for the American Agriculture Movement's strike unit of tractors that went from this area to Washington D.C. Additionally, during that time he joined other Texas farmers in protest along the Mexican Border. Several farmers from the local area were among those arrested for protesting produce being shipped across from Mexico but labeled grown in the USA plus the shipment of diseased cattle from Mexico to the USA. These farmers spent some time in the McAllen Jail until forced to be released by fellow protesters and the Texas Attorney General. After retirement, Mell and Edna were presented an award by the Texas Historical Commission as Outstanding State Volunteers for their work on the Lorenzo Cemetery. Mell, also, served as president of the Lorenzo Senior Citizens.
Being a life long member of the Democratic Party, Mell embraced its philosophy of insuring the needs and rights of ordinary people.
Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Edna Mae (Lobb); daughter, Barbara Foreman, Windsor, Colo.; daughter and son-in-law, Jim and Kathie Woodward, DeLeon Springs, Fla.; granddaughter and husband Lee Ann (Woodward) and Bryan Stone, Sterling, Ark.; grandson Sam Woodward, Tampa, Fla.; granddaughter, Pam (Foreman) Bowles; great-granddaughter, Cerise Bowles, Austin, Texas ; granddaughter and husband, Sandra (Foreman) and Wes Sutter, Lexington, Ky.; one brother, Herman Glenn Cherry, Crosbyton, Texas; along with a loving extended family of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Melvin and Vieannie Atwood Cherry; one brother, Odell Cherry; and four sisters, Inez Brian, Sarah Jane Kidwell, Johnnie Eldredge and Jessie B. McDougal.
Our thanks and appreciation go to the staff at the Ralls Nursing Home and IntegraCare Hospice for all the loving care extended at the end of his life. Suggest donations be sent to Lorenzo Senior Citizens or Lorenzo Cemetery Association.
Published in The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on March 26, 2012
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