Melvin Reid List

Melvin Reid List, 96, born May 6, 1929, in Sacramento, California, passed away unexpectedly at home on February 14, 2026. He was a father, grandfather, and great grandfather and he will be missed by many.

Melvin is survived by his sons Jeff List of Wilton, California, and Todd Silva of Carlsbad, California, David Silva of Pahrump, Nevada, and his daughters Tracey Prim of Meadow Vista, California, and Kelley Countryman of Elverta, California, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, his ex-wife, Mildred King of West Sacramento, California, and his cousin, Joan McHenry of Salinas, California. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly List and by former wives Tessa Silva, Cynthia (Beumer) List, Janie List, and Barbara (Pessner) List.

He grew up in Sacramento, graduating from McClatchy High School in 1948 before attending college at Sacramento City College (Associates of Arts Degree) and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo where he graduated with a degree in architectural engineering. An artist all his life, he began his professional career for the State of California. Seven years later he opened his own architectural practice during the booming 1960’s and was involved in the design and building of hundreds of commercial buildings, including shopping centers, office complexes, state buildings, medical buildings, apartment complexes, restaurants, clubhouses and custom homes. His practice included projects in both California and Nevada, and he also designed a 27-story hotel in Waikiki and numerous other buildings throughout the islands. He loved to bring his creative flair to his numerous projects. Although he continued to work part-time into his 80s, he moved in the 1970s to the Lake Tahoe area where he enjoyed golf, skiing and the outdoors before a short stint in Tacoma and then finally returning to Sacramento 9 years ago.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date and preceded by a private burial for family members only.