Posted 11/19/2012 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all....I wanted to share a bit about my husband.Obituary for Shawn Mell
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Shawn R. Mell, 47, of Hamburg, died Friday, November 16, 2012 in Albert Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia. He is the husband of Marybeth A. (Yerger) Mell. They were married on September 30, 1989 and celebrated 23 years of marriage. Shawn is the father of Alexandria R. Mell, a senior at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh; and Corporal Austin D. Mell, U.S. Marine Corps., stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
Born in West Reading, Shawn was the son of David P. and Paula E. (Graybill) Mell, Hamburg. He was a 1984 graduate of Liberty High School, Tioga County. Shawn graduated from Valley Forge Military Academy and received a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Mansfield University.
Trooper Mell enlisted in the State Police in 1988. Upon graduation from the Academy, he was assigned to Troop M, Fogelsville. He also served at Troop L, Hamburg and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Domestic Security Division where he currently served on a four-member Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Team.
Shawn also served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for almost 30 years, from which he retired this year at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served as the Public Affairs Officer for Stabilization Force XII in Bosnia from 2002-2003 and myriad other domestic security and overseas missions thoughout his career.
Shawn was a life member of Mason Dixon Post 7234 V.F.W., Ocean View, Delaware; a member of PA State Troopers Association; Behler-Hein Post 637 American Legion, Hamburg; 28th Infantry Division Association; PSP Melley FOP Lodge #65, Bethel; and the National Rifle Association, amongst many other associations. He truly was proud to serve both his community and country, enjoyed gardening, yard work, feeding his wild birds, and various outdoor activities. Above all, he adored his children and lived his life through theirs.
In addition to his wife, children, and parents, Shawn is survived by his mother-in-law: Helen Z. (Zaharchak) Yerger, a resident of Pinebrook Personal Care Center, Orwigsburg; and his loving extended family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday, November 20, at 10:30 am at Leibensperger Funeral Homes, Inc., 65 S. 4th Street, Hamburg (off street parking in rear), followed by the memorial service at 12:30 pm. Burial with military and state police honors will be held at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Shawn's name may be sent to the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation, P.O. Box 98, Annville, PA 17003/www.paveteransfoundation.org, or Camp Cadet, Troop L, P.O. Box 6845, Wyomissing, PA 19610. For online condolences, please visit, www.leibenspergerfuneralhomes.com. ..