John H. Melby

John was born in 1943 to his parents Marshall and Jessie Melby and was raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He went to the University of Wisconsin where he earned a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Geological Sciences. He then worked in the Oil and Gas Industry for 47 years at various companies (Amoco Oil, Davis Oil, Apache Oil, Enron and EOG Resources). He called EOG Resources home for the last 25 years, retiring last October. He met Barbara in college as she was one of very few girls into geology at the time. They married in 1967 and had two beautiful daughters, Karen and Jenny. Later in life, he became Grandpa to four wonderful grandchildren, Josh, Allison, Michaela, and Jonah. John was also involved in a variety of clubs; he was an active member in of the North JeffCo Gem and Mineral Club, the Denver Orchid Society, the National Rifle Association, the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, the Wyoming Geology Association, and the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists where in 2011, he was awarded the Geologist of the Year for his discovery of the Jake well in Weld County, Colorado (the start of the horizontal drilling frenzy in Colorado and Wyoming). Besides working, he enjoyed many hobbies. He loved to fish, hunt, and camp, grow orchids, make wine, ski and scuba dive. He was also an avid mineral collector. During the summer, you would often find him on the top of Mt. Antero digging for aquamarines at his claim. You could also count on him faceting the many stones he found into beautiful cut gemstones. He was truly ""A Man of Many Facets"". A Viewing will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2015, 1:00 PM, with Sharing of Memories, beginning at 2:00 PM both at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 7577 West 80th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made John's name to: Almost Home Adoptions for Cats 6010 West 88th Avenue Westminster, CO 80031 or Colorado Railroad Museum 17155 West 44th Avenue Golden, CO 80403 Please share your memories of John and condolences with the family by signing the guest book below.