Life story Mr. Melvin Lee Harper, age 82, of Madison, passed away on Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at his residence. Born August 14, 1929 in Nellie, Ohio, he was the son of Mac and Edna (Huggins) Harper. Mr. Harper was a graduate of Wooster, Ohio, High School. He served in the United States Army from 1951-52 during the Korean Conflict, fulfilling his service at the rank of Sgt. 1st Class, 89th Tank Battalion. In 1950, Mr. Harper moved to Madison and became part-owner of the former Moore's Hardware Store on Main Street with other family members. He then went on to own and operate ServiceMaster of Madison for 25 years, and then Harper Art Glass until his illness. He was known in the community for his stained glass art. He was also known for restoring two Madison area homes: one on Ryker's Ridge, where he lived until moving to Madison in 2002, and one in Downtown Madison. He was an avid marathon runner, and competed in 60-mile Ultra Races and the Madison Courier Firecracker 10K Race during Regatta week from its beginning until last year. He was active for twenty years in the Boy Scouts of America, and served as Scoutmaster for Troop #721 for five years. He also was honored with Boy Scout's highest award, the Silver Beaver Award. He was an expert canoeist, archer and an accomplished harmonica player, having been self-taught. Mr. Harper was a member of the First Christian Church, Madison, where he was a former deacon, and held memberships in the Madison Kiwanis Club, Goodwill Conservation Club, Madison Moose Lodge, Madison Elk's Lodge, the former Madison Country Club, charter member of the Madison Jaycees, and past president of the former Piankashaw Bow Hunters of Madison. Survivors include his wife, the former Paula J. "Jodie" Green, to whom he was married on April 24, 1987 in Bedford, Kentucky; two sons: Dr. Scot Harper and his wife, Cheryl of Zionsville, Indiana, and Brian Harper of Boynton Beach, Florida; three step-daughters: Kathy Ertel and her husband, Joe, and Christie Burton and her husband, David, all of North Vernon, Indiana, and Stephanie Brown and her husband, Jason of Chicago, Illinois; one brother, C. Russell Harper and his wife, Esther of Georgetown, Texas; ten grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, H. Robert Harper and one sister, Glenna Harper Howell. Memorial services will be conducted at 4:00 PM Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Lytle Funeral Chapel. Friends and family may call at Lytle Funeral Chapel from 1 until 3:45 PM Saturday. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Melvin L. Harper Memorial Fund for the Heritage Trail Conservancy. Contribution envelopes are available at the funeral home. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Melvin L. Harper, please visit our floral store.