Funeral Mass for SFC (Retired) Melvin Nickles (Pops) Fagan, 71, Lawton will be at 10:30 AM Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with Father Joseph R. Ross, pastor officiating. Sgt Fagan died Saturday, September 15, 2012 in Oklahoma City. Burial with full military honors will be at Post Cemetery, Fort Sill under the direction of Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service. The family will receive friends from 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. He was born May 8, 1941 to Melvin Curvin and Antoniette (Morelli) Fagan in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He joined the Army in 1957 at the age of sixteen. Sgt Fagan served for twenty one years and retired in 1979 at Fort Sill. His medals and decorations include the Good Conduct Medal Fourth Award, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, One Overseas Service Bar, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Two Service Stars, Army Commendation Medal, Bronze Star Medal and Sharpshooter (rifle M-14). While in the service he was stationed on the Taboga Island of Panama in 1964 where he met his wife to be Flor Maria Prado. They were married May 5, 1966 in Balboa in the Canal Zone of Panama. Shortly after their wedding, Melvin got orders back to the states. He was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia where his wife gave birth to their first son Melvin Curvin Fagan. Melvin wasn't able to be present at the time of the birth of their second son John because he was sent to Korea. He later returned home to enjoy being a father for a short period of time before receiving his orders to be sent to Vietnam. Pops was a very dedicated soldier who wore his uniform proudly. But he also wore the titles of being a husband, father and grandpa even more so. Melvin and Flor were blessed with two more sons, Robert and Billy during their marriage of forty six years. Pops enjoyed spending time with his sons. He never missed any of their ball games or important school functions. Anyone who knew him, knew that he was about family. Even though he had strong morals and family values, he was just like everyone else who tries to enjoy life. His ways of enjoying life were going fishing and to the casino. He also enjoyed playing on line poker and eating double dipped chocolate pecan marshmallow cream and strawberry sundaes. He is survived by his wife, of the home, four sons, Melvin Curvin Fagan and his wife Dorinda, Sterling, John Fagan and his wife Judy, Arlington, Texas, Robert Fagan and his wife Rose Mary, Lawton and Billy Fagan and his wife Staci Davis, Lawton, several grandchildren, James Fagan, Melvin Nickles Fagan, Teresa Fagan Spencer and her husband Todd, Johnny Fagan, Walter Fagan, Rosa Angelica Fagan, Ben Fagan, Jessica Fagan, Shandolin Davis, Robert Fagan, Jr., Tyler Fagan and Gracie Fagan. He is also survived by three great grandchildren, Adriana Fagan, Talon Fagan and Todd Spencer, II. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Jo Ann Fagan and Loretta Molena. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1320 N.W. Homestead Drive, Suite D, Lawton, OK 73505.