Melvin G. Hood, age 64, of Mattoon passed away at 6:12 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2016 surrounded by his family and friends at home. A celebration of Mels life will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a dinner being served at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, June 24, 2016 at the Moose Lodge 803, 1212 Broadway Avenue, Mattoon, IL. Schilling Funeral Home is assisting the family. Mel was born on August 5, 1951 in Mattoon the son of Philip and Evelyn (Tuggle) Hood. Mel is survived by his mother, Evelyn Hood; his children, Scott (Jamie) Hood of Mattoon, IL, Jamie Hood of Chicago, IL and Andrew Hood of Chicago, IL; grandchildren, Skyler Hood and Trey Wallace both of Mattoon, IL. Mel was preceded in death by his father Philip Hood and his fur babies Butterscotch and Zoey. Mel was a graduate of Mattoon Senior High School in 1969 and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1973. He later retired from R. R. Donnelley and Sons. Mel loved to fish, enjoyed playing golf and was a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals fan. He was always someone that his children could look up to and depend on. Not only did he show them how to be strong, honest, and good, but he also taught them the importance of being patient and understanding of others. To his children, he was the best father there could ever be and anyone who knew him had the privilege of knowing what a great, kind hearted person he was. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in his honor are suggested to the Sarah Bush Lincoln Cancer Center or the American Heart and Lung Association.