Obituary of Melford Douglass Bramblett
Melford “Doug” Bramblett (80) longtime resident of St. Maries, ID passed away at his home on November 19, 2023. He was born on November 5, 1943, in Los Angeles, CA to Corbett and Patricia Bramblett. Doug grew up in Bellflower, CA and left school in the 10th grade to go to work.
When Doug was just 13 years old, he met Betty Lee (who would later become the love of his life) and the teenagers “went together” for a little while before realizing the distance between them wasn’t working. Later in life when they were adults, they reconnected and married on October 26, 1968, combining their family at the time, Betty having Debbie and David, and Doug having Darin. The family made their home in Norman, OK until their first experience with a tornado, then they returned to Southern California. They moved all over Southern California before settling in Redlands, CA. Doug ended up obtaining his GED and attended some college. He worked at Kaiser Steel for several years before coming across an advertisement in Mother Earth Magazine for some property up Alder Creek near St. Maries, ID.
In 1977, the Bramblett family packed up and moved to their property on Alder Creek trying to escape the crime that was becoming the norm in California, and Doug wanted to experience a Grizzly Adams lifestyle. The family harvested logs off of their property, and it was a joint effort with everyone pitching in to build their family log cabin. Doug went to work driving school bus for the St. Maries school district, a career he had for over 27 years. After 11 years on Alder Creek, Doug and Betty bought a home in St. Maries and moved into town. They didn’t sell their property on Alder Creek until a couple of years after moving to town.
Doug also owned and operated his own business, Doug’s CB and Two Way Radios. He enjoyed installing CB’s and stereo systems. He had a passion for ham radios and CB’s and possessed a plethora of knowledge about them. When he wasn’t tinkering on the radios, he enjoyed listening and singing to music having a taste for different genres. He liked 50’s music and specifically liked Roy Orbison, Bob Seeger, and The Animals. When he was able to, he also enjoyed riding motorcycles, 3 wheelers, 4 wheelers, and his side by side. Bill Derr was one of Doug’s best friends and after they both retired they would still meet up and have coffee.
Doug is survived by his wife Betty at their home in St. Maries; children Debbie Gingras of St. Maries, ID, Darin Bramblett of Spokane, WA, David Russell of St. Maries, ID, Dawn (Wheat) Kruger of Clarkia, ID, and DeeDee Bramblett of St. Maries, ID; brother Clay (Carol) Bramblett of Hesperia, CA; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; 1 niece; and 3 nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Doug will be laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in a private ceremony. Public services will be held at a later date.
