Tecumseh Cemetery

Tecumseh, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

© Cooper Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Alva D. Melot

February 19, 1945 ~ June 21, 2021

Alva Donald Melot of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, went peacefully to be with the Lord on April 11th, 2022, at the age of 103. He was born on January 13, 1919, to Vernon and Mary (Tinney) Melot in Wanette, Oklahoma, in a one room house on his father’s Potawatomi allotment. As a young boy, Alva moved with his family to Tecumseh, Oklahoma, where he remained a lifelong resident. He graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1937. He then went on to graduate from the University of Oklahoma with his master’s in education. Alva was dedicated to education, shown by his willingness to hitchhike to campus every single week.

After meeting the love of his life, whom he taught, he married Betty Jean Branson on September 22, 1948, in Purcell, Oklahoma. They were happily married for 53 years. They had three children: Judi, Pierre, and Michelle Melot.

Alva spent over 40 years as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. In his spare time, he mowed school property, painted whatever needed paint, dug water lines, performed repairs, and attended thousands of school sporting and musical events, graduations, recognitions, and celebrations of all kinds. He was a member of the Tecumseh Historical Society, and an active and involved member of the Tecumseh Alumni Association where he never missed an Alumni Banquet until 2019. He was a member of Broadway United Methodist Church since the late 1950s. Alva took great pride in his Potawatomi and French heritage. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Betty, and together they went to over 20 countries.

Alva’s life was dedicated to his family, and to helping others. From words of advice to monetary offerings and anything in between, he was always willing and ready to help those around him.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Melot; his parents, Vernon and Mary Melot; two brothers, Glenn and Raymond Melot; and sister, Ella Melot.

The family has designated the Tecumseh Alumni Association or the Tecumseh Historical Society as appropriate for memorials in lieu of flowers.

Those left to cherish his memory are his three children: Judi Melot of Oklahoma City; Pierre Melot and his companion Susan Bradley of Norman; Michelle and Jeff Sigman of Tecumseh; his grandchildren, Nicole Elyse Emmons of Oklahoma City; Jennifer Terese Melot of Washington, DC; and Alex Melot Sigman and wife Lindsay Sigman of Shawnee; as well as many loving friends and extended family.

Visitation will be from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, April 15, 2022. A celebration of life service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Tecumseh Alumni Building with Reverend Stephanie Stephens, Tecumseh Broadway United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Tecumseh Cemetery under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh. Please join the celebration of Alva's life through Cooper Funeral Home’s Facebook page for live streaming of the service. The family recommends that all attendees wear masks, but masks not required to attend, and that family members practice social distancing during viewing.