Mel was a long-time Portland and Roseburg Oregon CPA, passing away Sept. 22, 2025. He was born August 24, 1935 in Bemidji, Minn., and moved to Burns in 1942.

Mel was preceded in death by his former wife, Carol Nygaard, and his wife, Mary J. Sykes, CPA. Mel is survived by his three daughters, Karen (Todd) Jones, Kathy (Paul) Martin, and Kristi Nygaard, and four grand-children. He is survived by his second family, step-children, Beth Sykes (Mike Jordan), Paul Sykes, Jill (Scott) Purcell and Matt Sykes (Colleen), eight step-grandchildren, and six step-great-grandchildren.

Mel graduated from Burns Union High School in 1953, and was active in music, theater, football, baseball, amateur radio, and served as senior class president. His favorite sport was golf.

He attended Oregon State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business & Technology, Accounting Concentration, and a minor in Geology, in 1957.

His career in public accounting started with the Portland firm where he became a partner in 1966. In 1970 that firm merged with a national firm, with Mel as a partner. He and his partners eventually created a namesake firm: Nygaard, Mims & Hoffman CPA’s, PC. (now Hoffman, Stewart & Schmidt, CPA’s).

Mel’s passion for the accounting profession, spanning his 63-year career, allowed him to serve at the OSCPA, as well as nationally on AICPA committees, and also work in golf in his national travels. His civic mindedness resulted in him being honored in 1969 with the Junior First Citizen Award and in 1970 being named one of Five Outstanding Young Men of Oregon. In Roseburg he was a dedicated Rotarian.

He had an appreciation for the outdoors, as well as international travel. Some of his favorite memories included time spent at Wallowa Lake, in the Metolius River Basin near Camp Sherman, and traveling to many places including Sweden (connecting with family), Abu Dhabi/UAE, Germany, and later in life, Istanbul.

A celebration of life will be held at Faith Lutheran Church (820 W. Kenwood St, Roseburg) on Dec. 13, 2025 at 2 p.m.

To honor Mel, gifts can be made in his name to Mercy Foundation, 2700 NW Stewart Parkway, Roseburg, Ore., 97471, or at www.mercygiving.org.