DOWNEY - Mel Ready, son of Richard Levi and Elna Thayne Ready, passed away at home June 26 surrounded by family following a brief illness. He was 51.Ready was born Jan. 7, 1958 in Bellflower. He attended Imperial Elementary, West Middle School and Warren High School, graduating in 1976. While at Warren, he was on the wrestling and football team. Ready served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Montevideo, Uruguay from 1977-79. After returning, he married his high school sweetheart, Laura Jean Benson, on May 25, 1979 in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Ready worked a variety of jobs while going to school, allowing his wife to stay home with their children. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Cal State Los Angeles in 1986. He then went to work for a variety of accounting firms. He began work for Elite Information Systems in 1998 and worked there for 10 1/2 years. His positions included manager of the support department and client relationship manager. He moved to Latham & Watkins law firm in July of 2008, where he was an accounting and finance project manager. He remained there until his death. Ready was active in the LDS Church and served in many capacities, including as Young Men's president, as a Sunday school teacher and primary teacher, and as scoutmaster. He was called into the bishopric in October of 2006, where he served as second and then as first counselor to Bishop Bukowski of the Downey Second Ward. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Laura Jean Benson Ready; and their 10 children and four grandchildren: Bryce Benson Ready (married to Camilla Charene Thomas, children Noah Benjamin and Aaron James Ready), Jason Melvin Ready, Mariah Jean Ready Rollins (married to Daniel Nathan Rollins, children Ethan Daniel and Laura Jean Rollins), Brandon Benson Ready, Sharon Joy Ready, Tara Lynn Ready, Derrick Aaron Ready, Rebecca Ann Ready, Christal Marie Ready and Nathan James Ready. He is also survived by his half-sister, Verda Dawn Hampton of New Mexico; brother, Marlo (Tanna) Ready of New Harmony, Utah; sister, Darla (Jimmy) Dart of Hurricane, Utah; and sister, Melissa (Daniel) Sukut of Kooskia, Idaho. A funeral took place July 2 at the Downey LDS Stake Center. He was interred at Mendon City Cemetery in Mendon, Utah on July 7.

********** Published: July 10, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 12