Mapleton Firefighter passes away

[bearb705]

Mel Couchis past away Friday April 28, 2006. Mel served as the Mapleton City Fire Chief from 2000 to 2002, Mel was diagnosed with brain cancer in January 2004 his battle ended Friday morning April 28, 2006. Services will be held Tuesday May 2, 2006 at 2:00pm in Mapleton The family and the Mapleton Fire Department are requesting your support at the funeral. All departments are invited to attend and to bring a truck to take part in the precision from the church to the Spanish Fork cemetery. For those departments that can attend, would you please be at the Mapleton North Stake center and lined up by 1:30pm. All trucks will be lined up along HWY 89. Thank you for your support in honoring Mel as a brother in the fire service and as a friend.


Thank You
The Mapleton City Fire Fighters

:If you have questions call Assnt. Chief Seamons at 801-794-2826
or e-mail bear705@sfcn.org

[UTFFEMT]

A firefighter forever: From the school to the fire, Couchis served his community PDF | Print | E-mail

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NATALIE ANDREWS - Daily Herald
When the bell rang, Mel Couchis was there.

It may have been a school bell at Mapleton Elementary, signifying lunchtime. Students ran to the tables that head custodian Couchis set up every day for over 20 years.

Or, it may have been a fire bell, and Couchis responded with the rest of the Mapleton firefighters, no matter the time, to the call.

Sometimes he went from school straight to fires -- the fire truck would stop at the school, and Couchis would run out, put on his gear and go.

Sirens sounded Tuesday, but this time it was for 54-year-old Couchis. He died Friday, losing a year-long battle with cancer. The flag-draped coffin on the back of the city fire truck, with firefighters in full gear standing as pallbearers, showed a dedication to someone who was dedicated to them.

The city's firefighters, who are usually tough individuals ready to run into a burning building while everyone else runs out, showed that even tough people have their soft moments.

All in white uniform shirts emblazoned with Mapleton Fire & Rescue, of the 22 men and one woman of the department, there were only a few who didn't walk in carrying a tissue.

Fire department secretary Kori Hjorth reported that the city's firefighters said that during his time as chief, from 2000 to 2002, Couchis taught them to work hard, listen, be kind to children, never give up and to make sure you never say "This is a no rules water fight!"

His polite, enduring personality extended into all aspects of life. Mapleton Elementary School principal, J. Lynn Jones, estimates that Couchis opened over 40,000 milk cartons for students during his time at the school.

Until the fire marshal outlawed it, every year Couchis would chop down the best Christmas tree he could find for the school and string lights around it. The tree was displayed in the media center. When the school got two media centers, Couchis started finding two trees.

The school is in an old building, and only Couchis knew how to work the furnace just right to keep all the teachers happy, Jones said. The funeral was at 2 p.m. so teachers could attend after class. The chapel filled to the overflow.

A grateful principal and friend, Jones said, "He was always right there standing beside me and standing tall."

The firefighters saw their friend the same way. Hjorth is hanging a plaque in the station that says "In memory of Mel, return with honor."

Couchis's brother Lester VanNosdal called him private and soft-spoken. They did a lot of things together. Six years ago they bought Jeeps -- VanNosdal first, and Couchis a week later. Together, they went all over the mountains in Utah County and Tooele.

"He tried things that I don't think I ever would have tried without him," VanNosdal said.

After Couchis's cancer diagnosis, the two went to Moab for one final ride. Couchis was in pain, he was retiring from the school and no longer going out on rides with the fire department. The two decided to go anyway, and of course Couchis had to go on one of the toughest trails.

"We made it through," VanNosdal said. "It took us almost nine hours, but we made it. That just shows you that he wasn't giving up. I don't think he ever gave up, he just knew there was somewhere else he had to be."