Melvin Hugh Boxell
October 19, 1939 ~ January 17, 2026
Melvin Hugh Boxell passed away on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at his home in Palestine, Texas. Mel was born in Wells County, Bluffton, Indiana on October 19, 1939, to parents Glen Boxell and Garnet Bookout Boxell.
Melvin served proudly in the United Stated Navy as a Fireman Marine. Among Mel's many activities he liked motorcycling, baseball, and hunting. He loved going to support the local high school football games on Friday nights. He was a volunteer with the Tennessee Colony fire department.
Mel's favorite pastime was fishing at every opportunity and sitting on his back porch. Mel and Val spent many hours together on the local lakes enjoying fishing and when they couldn't go fishing, they sat on the back porch drinking their morning coffee or afternoon iced tea. He touched many lives and will be greatly missed.
He is survived by his wife of forty years, Valerie (Mestnik) Boxell; his children, Laura (Boxell) Masson, Joseph Boxell, both of Florida. Mel cherished his many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Mel was preceded in death by his parents Glen and Garnet Boxell of Indiana; brothers, William Boxell, Gerald Boxell both of Indiana; sisters, Betty (Boxell) Brunner, and Janice (Boxell) Martin both of Texas. Mel was the last member of his immediate family.
Honoring Mel's wishes, he will be cremated with no services. The family wishes to thank you all for the warm thoughts and prayers during this time.
Cremation services for Melvin Hugh Boxell are in care of Rhone Funeral Home, 3900 S. State Highway 19, Palestine, Texas. Please visit his online memorial tribute at www.rhonefuneralhome.com, where words of comfort and condolence may be shared electronically with his family.
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Our prayers and thoughts are with you. Mel was loved by all who knew him.
So sorry to hear about Mel passing, he was a good friend and great Fisherman.
I learned a lot from him and enjoyed some of our fishing trips in the past. He will be missed.
Great memories of fishing trips and friendship
May you find my Dad and ole Billy in heaven and the good fishing spot ….. see ya some day …
Prayers for Val and family in this hard time …
Randy Tyer
Mel was a great friend he would come and drive a tractor for us during our Christmas Tree season always a joy to have at the farm he will be missed.
I met this sweet man and his wife at work, he was always so sweet to me. He will be missed.
My condolences to Val and family. Mel was a great man, and even better angler! I’ve got hundreds of good memories with him over the last 40 years. He will me missed, but know he’s on a hot topwater bite up there, you know he’s happy!
I first met Mel on a deer lease we were on at the upper end of Opossum Kingdom Lake. He loved fishing just as much as he did. Hunting. I was a part of an annual fishing trip with friends on Caddo Lake and I asked him and several of the other guys on the lease to go one year. Mel and the others fit right in and became a part of it all. Lots of fun and poking at each other over the years. Fun memories of exploding tackle boxes, being all Meled up (a serious backlash in one’s reel) and talking bad about your Boat Bitch. (Your buddy that fished in your boat with you). Mel always gave his “BB” the dickens. Sorry Joe!
It was all worth it and it was all priceless. Excellent Memories that will be with all of us. The “Caddo Boyz” will miss you Mel but you will never be forgotten.
Val! A super big hug to you for allowing Mel to bring us the awesome fudge you sent every year. Yes, Mel did share it with us.
Peace be with you and sending a hug!
It was a blessing to know mel.prayers are with his family.
If there is water in Heaven,Mels fishing it right now. Only person I know who could fish 7 days a week 52 weeks a year. We fished from Minnesota to Mexico and Mud Holes in between. Bass #1,crappie,sandies,hybrid,reds,walleys,pearch if Val insisted but never catfish! Caught 50 reds in one day at Fairfield,40 bass in 103 degree water at Fairfield, over 400 Sadies one day at Richland Chambers, braved the cartel for bass at Falcon (Mexico side),thousands of bass from Coleman lake,nearly froze to death two separate years to fish Texoma in January. The memories go on. Glad Ive got my memories of fishing with the old Gezer! Stephen
I remember Sitting with him in a fire truck, talking and fishing with him on the ranch that he worked at and going fishing on Richmond chambers, I still got a picture of him and me in the boat loved him to death and he’ll be missed deeply.
One of my best days of life when I met Mel several years ago. Mel was always upbeat to me and my family, he simply loved watching local school atheletics, getting to know many of young people involved, also I believe fishing might have been one of his top loves. Mel, I will miss you more than you can imagine, especially our conversations. I do thank my GOD for the privilege of calling you friend. Till we meet again.
I’ve known and fished with Mel aka GEZR (had this stenciled on back of his boat) which we called him most times and he would just smile and answer”what’s happening Slick” since the mid 90’s when I first met him on a yearly guys trip on Lake Caddo. This yearly trip became something we all looked forward to each year to get together and cut up and relax and enjoy each others company as much if not more than the fishing we were there for. Mel fished with me in my boat the last 5 or so years he was able to attend the trip and I got really know Mel as true friend that would do anything for us if you asked. He loved his Waylon Jennings while we fished and would usually out fish ya if you were on your game. I know I and all of the “ Caddo Gang” will truly miss him on our yearly trip but I know he’ll be right there with us when we’re on the water.
I remember and my uncle smelly taught to drive a tracker before I could reach the pedals. And I remember trying to be one of the boys and help him with the cow feed he was very impressed. He also taught me how to fish and love the outdoors. – His great niece Bailey.
Melvin “Uncle Smelly” Boxell was my great uncle. I have fond memories of the times that we would go fishing on the docks or feeding the fish with cheese. He would always help us appreciate the great outdoors riding around in the mule or just looking at the deer. And I will always remember the smile on his face every time we went to go see him It would always light up the whole room. We lost a great man but heaven gained a glorious angel. – Your loving great nephew Brady Summers
My memories of Mel are different than most … he married my sister. I watched the life they shared and how happy they were for so many years.. They shared good times traveling, hunting, fishing, parties, softball and even going out to clubs dancing. She has lost her partner but he gave her many good memories to hold on to. Luv ya Sister.
Happy Groundhog Day Uncle Mel! Unfortunately, no fishing for 6 more weeks. Have great memories of fishing with you up at the resort in MN. The photo I uploaded is from after an O-dark-thirty fishing experience…and it’s noon! You were one of the most patient adults in my life, ever. Always encouraging and always with a smile. I remember your (rather loud) Chevy pickup…and how fast it was. “Don’t tell your Aunt Val”, I heard a few times when we’d get going a bit above the speed limit…and there was another sports car involved! Never lost a race with you, Uncle Mel. Love and miss you.
My uncle Mel taught me how to drive a boat. I would look back at him to make sure I was doing it right and he would just tell me, “Watch where you’re going”. If he wanted me to make any changes, he would just point the left or right or tell me to give it a little more gas. He would do the same thing when he taught me how to drive the lawnmower. I would look back at him and he would say, “you’re alright, just watch where you’re going“. When he taught me how to drive the tractor and I would stall it out he would tell me, “it’s all right, try it again“. And then I would stall it out again and he would say, “it’s all right try it again“. When he taught me how to shoot and I would miss he would say, “Caleb, you couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn if you tried“. My uncle Mel also taught me how to bass fish and while I know most people’s best memories are fishing with him and they are some of my best memories too, but my favorite memories with him would be just hanging out, sitting on the porch or watching basketball and eating popcorn or “corn”. Thank you for all the life lessons and being a wonderful uncle.
You were the man, the myth and the shining legend on every lake from Texas to Minnesota, but to me, you were my incredible dad. I’ll forever cherish the bond we shared. I’ll always treasure sitting on the porch with you, laughing and shedding a few tears together but listening to you tell stories from your childhood, your courageous duties in the Navy and of course the baseball and fishing tales will be etched in my heart. I’m grateful that you lived a long and purposeful life that you and Val had a wonderful life together. You always said you didn’t know what you’d ever do without her, I’m indebted to her for the love and care she showed you. I still want to pick up the phone to call and ask you how you’re doing or to let you know that baseball has started up and Aja’s team won their first tournament and Abry is still perfecting her art for the yearbook.
I wish I could spend one more day with you,Dad.
I love and miss you dearly
Sloopy 💙
Valerie,
A voice from your past … so sorry for the passing of Melvin. Your beautiful life with Mel was shown through photos and tributes. I googled your name and found his obituary.
Condolences again.
Reach out to me if you choose.
Barb Shands