Ira "Mel" Utley, 78, of Madisonville, Ky. passed away at 5:50 p.m. on Tuesday April 19, 2011 at Riverside Manor Healthcare Center in Calhoun, Ky.

He was born on February 7, 1933 in Madisonville, Ky. to the late Rita Utley and Ira Mack Utley. He was a United States Army Veteran and a Mason with Masonic Lodge 143. He was formerly a coal miner with Island Creek Coal Company. He attended The Greater Lighthouse Pentecostal Church in Madisonville.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his step-brother, Benson Utley and a nephew, Kenny Utley.

He is survived by his daughter, Mona Bowley of Madisonville; a son, Mack Utley of Kuttawa, Ky.; a brother, Kenneth Utley of Bowling Green, Ky.; two grandchildren; Jarod Bowley of Lexington, Ky. and Jeremy Bowley of Madisonville; three great-grandchildren, Kaydence Bowley, Jakub Bowley and Josiah Bowley all of Dawson Springs, Ky.; a niece, Sherry Mitchell of Whitehouse, TN.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday April 22, 2011 in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Bro. Ronnie Hendricks officiating. A Masonic rites service will be at 6 p.m. Friday. Military services will be conducted graveside by 101st Airborne Division Ft. Campbell and Hopkins County Honor Guard. Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday and from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour Friday at Harris Funeral Home.