Melvin Jay Vance

Melvin Vance passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at the age of 83 years. He will be greatly missed by his seven children (they are all boys except for five), Jayson "Jay" Vance (Gail) of Calgary, Rosemary “Rose” Hudson (Timothy) of Airdrie, Michelle Beutler (Ron) of Mapleton, Utah, Adam Vance (Lyndi) of Saratoga Springs, UT, Heather Hafen (Jared) of Sierra Vista, AZ, Sarah Arnoldsen (Johnnie) of Orem, Utah and Megan Sorenson (Travis) of Eagle Mountain, Utah; 35 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren; a sister Janeen Gough; a brother Peter Vance; and many other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents Byron & Jennie Vance, and siblings Richard Vance, John Vance, Hugh Vance, Paul Vance, Maureen Orr and Linda Olsen.

Melvin Jay Vance was born to Jennie and Byron Vance in Rosemary, Alberta. Growing up on a farm in a rural community, Mel learned the value of hard work by necessity. He followed the example of his father and mother as well as his older siblings in doing his part to take care of each other. It was during this time that he developed a keen interest in and love for animals - particularly horses. He rode, trained and competed in rodeo events for most of his life.

Mel was called to serve in the South Australian Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints from 1962-1964. It was there that he first met a beautiful, young convert to the church from England by the name of Heather Duncan. It was their mutual love of horses that initially attracted them to each other. Following his two year mission, Mel returned to Australia to work with his brothers and pursue a relationship with Heather. They were married in Australia and sealed in the New Zealand temple on March 23, 1966. They had their first baby, Jayson, shortly afterwards while living in Perth. The little family then moved back to Canada and had another baby, Rosemary, in Calgary. Two more babies joined them during their years of schooling in Rexburg, Idaho and Provo Utah, Michelle and Adam. The growing family lived in Davenport Iowa for 3 years while Mel attended Chiropractic school. In 1975 they moved back to Alberta where they lived close to grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins while Mel began a successful Chiropractic practice. They also added 3 more daughters to the family, Heather, Sarah, and Megan.

Dr. Vance was well known in the community of Airdrie as the first chiropractor for almost 25 years before moving to the Cayman Islands where he operated a Chiropractic practice combined with a Wellness and Weight Loss Clinic. Mel returned to Utah in 2015 to make his children and grandchildren the focus of his life.

He will be greatly missed by his posterity.

A Funeral Service will be held for Mel at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Main Street Chapel (1504 Main Street, Airdrie) on Saturday, September 5, 2026 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be held prior to the service at 9:30 am. Interment will take place following the service at Queen's Park Cemetery.