Melvin Ekman, age 93, passed away March 24, 2006 at Mira Vista in Mount Vernon, WA. Melvin was born October 11, 1912 in Lake Stevens, WA to Herman and Edith Anna Ek-man. He grew up in the Nooka-champs and attended Mount Vernon schools. He married Dorothy Noyes in 1936. They lived in the Burlington area. Melvin worked in talc mining, forest industry, and road con-struction. He had an extensive blasting career as a "powder monkey" in Washington and Oregon states. Old timers often commented that he was the best powder man around. He married June Benson in 1964. They lived in the Clear Lake area. He was a member of the Laborer's International Un-ion of North America, Local 901 and a past member of the Burlington Eagles and Sedro-Woolley American Legion. When Melvin retired, he en-joyed gardening and fishing. Melvin was preceded in death by his wives Dorothy (1963) and June (1992); parents, Her-man and Edith Ekman, and sis-ters Edith Loop, Margaret Gaven and Gwen Harvanek. He is survived by his brother, Gerald Ekman; children: Karen Graham, Mark (Janice) Ek-man, Wayne Ekman, Vera (George) Sullivan, Pat (Har-mon) Adams, and Ron (Gae) Benson; 16 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, 3 nieces and 2 nephews. The family suggests donations to your favorite charity or re-search fund. A celebration of Melvin's life will be held Saturday, April 1, 2006, 1:00pm at Hawthorne Fu-neral Home followed by a cryptside service at Hawthorne Memorial Park and a reception in the Hawthorne Reception Room.