It is with loving memory we announce that Dorothy Darlene Mello born June 17, 1946 passed away September 15, 2023 in the late hours of the morning after having a severe stroke.

Dorothy was born in Scotia, the second daughter of a family of five, to Joe and Audrey Mello, and was raised on a dairy farm where she grew surrounded by her family and all the animals of the farm. Taking care of the animals became her life’s love. She went to grammar school at Bayside in Arcata and Plaza school in Willows, Calif. when the family moved there in 1956, and in British Columbia when the family moved there in 1961.

In 1964 the family moved back to Humboldt County and settled in Blue Lake just before the big flood. Dorothy became the helper that was always available at the right time. She helped keep the house with her mother Audrey and when her sisters needed her to help with their kids’ cleaning and rearing, she was there then too. She became affectionately known as Doe Doe when her nieces and nephews couldn’t pronounce Dorothy. One after the other they picked up the nickname and she loved it. Dorothy was there when life went full circle and she moved back home to take care of mom and dad at the end of their lives. There was always someone who benefited from Dorothy’s generous and loving help.

Dorothy also had many hobbies. In her young life she used to paint by number and she showed 4-H livestock. She was an excellent horsewoman her whole life, from the time she took up Dad’s horse Peggy to herding cattle in Canada to parade riding on her beautiful horse Sally. She also had many years showing her prize winning silky chickens at all the local fairs until she won all the titles she competed in.

Dorothy was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, great-aunt, and great-great aunt. We will all miss her very, very much, and so will Brownie the dog and Bob the bird.

Dorothy is survived by her brother Joe Mello Jr and his wife Teresa and their sons Kevin and Jeff Mello and wife Staci. Her sister Barbara Mello-Wolf and her sons Aaron Bednar, Travis Mello and wife Ariel and daughter Florence, Kyle Wolf and Faith Houck-Wylie. Her late sisters son Sonny Pedrotti. Her goddaughter Diane Reeves and brother Joe Spencer, and many great and great great nieces and nephews.

A family celebration of life will take place at a later date.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Dorothy Mello’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.