Melvin Cree

Melvin E. Cree, age 86, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Saturday, July 29, 2006 in a Chattanooga hospital. He was a member of North Cleveland Church of God for over 35 years where he served as an usher and a greeter. He was employed in maintenance with the City of Cleveland where he was loved by all for 21 years. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving in World War II in Europe. Mr. Cree was the son of the late William R. and Bertha Catherine Heller Cree. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Genevieve Rose Cree of Cleveland; children and spouses: Susan Cree Knipp and Donald Knipp of Mentor, Ohio and Vicki Raye Hancock and Winston Hancock of Humble, Texas; seven grandchildren: Ryan Hancock, Christopher Knipp, Matthew Knipp, Jonathan Knipp, Stephen Knipp, Angi Michelle Lewis and Kimberly Knipp; six great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Bishop Donald Knipp, Dr. Winston Hancock and Reverend Jack Smith officiating. Interment will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. at the Chattanooga National Cemetery with military honors. Honorary pallbearers will be Patrick Ryan Hancock, Christopher Scott Knipp, Matthew David Knipp, Jonathan Gregory Knipp and Stephen Michael Knipp. His family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.