Beverly Elaine Mello

Our beloved Beverly Elaine Leal Mello passed at the age of 91 on September 5, 2025, with her family by her side.

Born June 7, 1934, in Woodlake, California, to Mary Catherine Olivera and John Cordoso Leal, Bev weighed all of two pounds. Not thinking she d survive, the hospital sent her home with her parents, who wrapped her in blankets and tucked her into a shoebox they placed on the open door of the wood stove to keep her warm. Beverly thrived. Raised on a dairy farm, she loved the wide-open spaces and all the extended Portuguese family love, especially

from her grandparents, who were active in her day-to-day life. Bev attended Elbow Creek Elementary in Woodlake (along with her life-long best friend, Addie Hollis) and later, Visalia Union High School.

In 1950, Beverly accepted a date from a neighbor boy, Les Mello. Bev introduced Les to his first cheeseburger and shake, and after they fell in love, they married on October 6, 1952. She gave birth to three children, Gary, Cindy, and Brian. Above all, Bev and Les valued their family and taught their kids how to be decent, hardworking, yet fun-loving people. Along with the countless celebrations and gatherings the Mellos had, the family's happy place was Pismo Beach.

A creative seamstress, scrap-booker, cook, and homemaker, Beverly began working as a teacher's aide after her children were in school, first at Conyer School and then Mineral King School, from where she retired. Communi ty-minded and social, Beverly was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Visalia for 91 years where she taught CCD, the Tulare County Cabrillo Club, St. Mary's Catholic Daughters, the Tulare Women's Golf Club, a Monday Bunco Group, and the Tuesday Lunch Bunch. After Les passed, she was befriended by several women from St. Mary's. That circle of late-in-life friends had long lunches together after Sunday mass.

She is survived by her three children, Gregory (Gary) Mello, Cynthia Mc• Gee, and Brian Mello, as well as their spouses, Kymberly, Mike, and Sandra, and her honorary daughter, Shereen Brown. Bev's grandchildren are Amanda and Jeremy Fox, Ryan and Joanna Lee, Bethany and Jacob Guerra, Bryanna and Brandon Parkey, Amanda and Matt Lebo, Sara and Caleb Savala, and Michael McGee. Bev has eleven great-grandchildren: Aubrey, Teddy, Grant, Owen, Luca, Katie & Ella, Savannah, Rilynn, Calvin, and Cruz.

Bev Mello was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Les, for more than seventy years, and her best friend since childhood, Addie Hollis.

Beverly Mello will be more than missed. Her quick wit, apple pan, soft hugs, and sweet kisses will be remembered for as long as her family and friends draw breath.

Funeral Arrangements:

Wed, September 10th - Smith Family Chapel location: 505 East Pine Street, Exeter, CA.

3-5 p.m. Visitation

5-6 p.m. Reciting of Rosary

Thurs, September 11th - 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Visalia.

Directly followed by a graveside burial at 12 Noon at the Visalia Cemetery.

Instead of flowers, please consider contributing to Beverly's favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Beverly Elaine Mello, please visit our floral store.