Melbourne Eugene Legg, 84, of Roscommon, MI passed away on January 5, 2023.
Mel was born on December 20, 1938 in Pontiac, MI to Carson and Thelma (Spear) Legg. After his birth, he and his mom returned to Roscommon where he lived his entire life.
Mel started his working life in the Legg & Sons sawmill. He always said he had 20 minutes to be at the sawmill after he got home from school. At 16, he started driving the logging trucks for the family until the business folded as the lumber mills themselves declined.
Mel worked many years with the State of Michigan starting as a custodian at the DNR office in Roscommon and ending as a Ranger at North Higgins Lake State Park. Prior to the Higgins Lake State Park he was employed at Hartwick Pines State Park. While there, a sawmill was donated and it fell on Mel to install the mill in the building the state built after the donation. During that time Mel consulted his father, Carson, on his expertise and it set the seed for Mel to have a sawmill in retirement, which he set up on his father’s property with his father’s and brother’s consent. After his father passed, Mel and Theresa purchased the family homestead and Mel ran his hobby sawmill.
Mel volunteered his time running the sawmill at Hartwick Pines for Sawdust Days and Black Iron Days. They used the steam engine from the sawmill to make lunches for all the volunteers and Friends of the Pines when there were special events. Mel was very happy volunteering and running the mill.
He lived in his childhood home his entire life. He retired early and that’s when he set up his home sawmill after taking over the home on the homestead and purchased the property from the family estate. Kids from Roscommon school would have field trips to see the sawmill in action. They would learn how to measure the board foot of a log and how to get the most finished product out of it, among other sawmill things. Mel also donated lumber to the Roscommon Schools for their shop program. Milling was what Mel enjoyed most.
Mel and Judy were members of Messiah Lutheran Church in Roscommon, where they both were very active at the time of the newest addition there.
Mel is survived by his significant other, Judy Murray of Roscommon, MI; daughter, Tina (Matt) Granlund of Bowling Green, KY; grandchildren, Luke Legg, Greg (Shea) Granlund, and Jennifer (Nathan) Estes and “adopted” daughter, Amber Dowland; daughter-in-law, Marsha Legg; grandchildren, Lucas Legg, Leeland Legg, Annamae Coulter, Kinsley Estes, Grayson Estes and Gerik Grandlund; sister-in-law, Ann Legg; and brothers-in-law, Paul Sopsack and George Johnson.
Mel is preceded in death by his first wife of 38 years, Teresa (Sopsack) Legg; children, Andrea Legg and John Legg; brothers, Elwyn Legg and Jim Legg; sister-in-law, Kathy Johnson; brothers-in-law, Tom Johnson and Chester Johnson; and beloved dog, Duke.
A memorial service will be held at a later date. Condolences can be shared at www.sorensonlockwood.com.
Arrangements by Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home.
