Melvin Wesley Daniels

Melvin Wesley Daniels, affectionately known by many as “What the Hell Mel,” passed away on November 19, 2025 in Chattanooga, Tennessee at the age of 72. Born on August 4, 1953 in St. Louis, Missouri, Mel lived a life as vibrant, unpredictable, and unforgettable as the man himself. He grew up as a military brat, moving more than a dozen times as he traveled with his mother through several of her remarriages. His early years were not easy. Before finding stability with his grandparents, he endured a difficult and painful upbringing under his mother’s roof, where he suffered physical abuse and was often blamed for problems that were not his responsibility. These were burdens no child should ever have to carry. Regardless of the mistreatment and neglect, he deeply loved his mother and later reconciled with her. From those hardships he developed sharp street smarts, quick intuition, and a lifelong instinct to protect and uplift others. What remains most remarkable is that despite everything he endured, he stayed optimistic, warm, and jolly throughout his entire life, often surprising people with his joyfulness.

At 14, Mel found steadier ground when he went to live with his cherished grandparents on their farm. Surrounded by animals, chores, and the grounding rhythm of country life, he developed a deep appreciation for hard work, stability, and independence. His grandparents, both now deceased, gave him a genuine experience of unconditional love, and his grandfather’s nickname for him, “Laddie”, remained one of Mel’s greatest sources of identity and pride. 

At 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served proudly as a diesel mechanic aboard the USS Dixon, a submarine tender during the Vietnam War era. Like the ocean, he was vast and untamed with many beautiful intricacies. His love for the sea remained one of the great constants of his existence. He enjoyed fishing, crabbing, and boating in the open waters and Sonoma Lake during his time in Sonoma County.

In 1978, Mel moved to California and began a career that spanned more than four decades. Rising from a landscaping apprentice to a well respected entrepreneur, he built a legacy rooted in grit and artistry. Through Daniels Painting and later Mel Daniels Construction, he transformed homes and businesses throughout Northern California. His work included projects at Ledson Winery, the home of Sharon Stone, and countless properties across Sonoma and Napa counties. Mel possessed a rare ability to match or create any paint color by sight, a talent that became part of his personal legend. His craftsmanship remains embedded in the walls and foundations of the places he touched, each reflecting his precision and pride. He often brought his daughter Crystal to job sites, where she spent hours watching him work with skill and humor. He affectionately called her Crystal Pistol, a nickname that reflected their closeness throughout her childhood.

One of Mel’s greatest pleasures in life was food. He loved seafood, cooking, and barbecuing, and he took great joy in planning shared meals. Whether making something simple or preparing a feast for friends and family, he approached food with enthusiasm and a sense of celebration. Cooking connected him to others, and he delighted in feeding the people he loved. He frequently joked, “Call me anything, just don’t call me late for dinner,” a line that captured both his humor and his love of a good meal.

Mel was larger than life, bold, trusting, playful, and endlessly generous. His jokes and charismatic nature were infectious. He lived freely, with a spirit that people often described as that of a wild horse. He did what he wanted, followed his instincts, and lived fully and unapologetically.

As a father, Mel’s devotion was steady and full hearted. Though he and her mother Carolyn were married only briefly during Crystal’s early years, they maintained a meaningful friendship through her childhood and into adulthood. Some of Crystal’s fondest memories include boating with her father, sneaking double feature movies, and sharing countless everyday adventures. They made a consistent effort to see each other often throughout her adult life, which allowed her children Alexander, Celeste, and Genevieve to build a deep and loving relationship with their grandfather.

Mel also maintained a caring connection to the two children of his deceased ex wife Hua. While he was not a full time father figure in their daily lives, he made a genuine and positive impact on them, providing support, kindness, and presence during the years he was married to their mom and beyond. Mel’s family also includes his wife Mia. Although they spent the last couple of years of their marriage living separately, with Mia residing in Peru while Mel remained in the United States, he cared deeply for her and maintained meaningful bonds with her children. Mel had a significant and positive impact on Diego, Eduardo, and Angelica, offering guidance, affection, and stability that enriched their lives during the years they shared with him. His extended family also includes his step grandchildren Kassandra, Karleen, Jayden, Kiki, and Isabella. In his final chapter he continued to embody his lifelong instinct to care for others. The last season of his life he kept Crystal’s mother Carolyn company, prepared and shared meals with her while she was receiving end of life care, and remained present, attentive, and thoughtful even as his own body grew tired.

Only a couple of nights before his passing, Mel shared stories with his grandson Alexander about his own childhood on the farm with his grandparents, tender memories he had carried with him all his life. As Mel’s heartbeat faded in the end, Crystal and Alexander held his left hand. Remembering those stories, Alexander leaned close to him and gently whispered, “You’re going home Lad. Everything is okay. You’re going home.” It was a profound moment of love and grace that will remain with the family forever.

Mel formed a wide circle of deep friendships throughout his life, and the number of people who loved him cannot be counted. He remained close to many treasured friends including Barbara and her husband Alan, who welcomed him warmly into their home during the last year of his life. He shared many trail rides and long days on horseback with his dear friend Debi, bonding over the freedom of the open trails, and he often attended gatherings with her and her husband Chris. His friend Candace continued to care about him even as life brought distance. Mel was remembered fondly by many women he had once been romantically involved with, and by many male friends who admired his humor, jolliness, and generosity. His spirit left an impression that could never be replicated.

He is survived by his brother Bob and six beloved sisters, Judy, Linda, Suzan, Christy, Pamela, and Sherry, along with their families. Mel and Bob shared a bond as close, mischievous, and wholehearted as the friendship between Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. Together they created a lifetime of stories, from childhood adventures to riding out west and to unforgettable trips to Sturgis where they laughed, wandered, and lived freely. Their brotherhood was one of Mel’s greatest joys. He was preceded in death by his mother Shirley, his ex wife Hua, and several dear friends. His absence leaves a void that cannot be measured, but his stories, craftsmanship, humor, friendships, and love continue to echo through the lives he touched. Melvin Wesley Daniels, with his zest for life, boundless generosity, and unforgettable presence, leaves behind a world forever shaped by his hands and warmed by his spirit. Although the world feels a little dimmer without him, the legacy he built in wood, paint, laughter, music, meals, and love will shine on for generations.