Melvin ” Skip” Yale Garber

Melvin Yale Garber (always known as “Skip”) was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1946, son of Margie Headlee and Rollie Garber, Brother of Lloyd, and Janice. He passed away November 20, 2021.

A flute and saxophone musician most of his life, Skip participated in several jazz bands in the Phoenix area.  He also worked for Sun Valley Music Wholesale, Milano Music Center, The Music Spot, and he owned his own Garber Music Company – a retail store for all things music.  Skip served in the U.S Navy Seabees as a Petty Officer, 2^nd class engineering aide where he supervised engineering technicians in all phases of design, construction, and surveys.  And, of course, he was a musician in the Sea Bees Band.  After leaving the Navy, Skip worked for the US Department of Land Management, and the City of Phoenix Traffic Engineering as an Engineering Aide collecting and analyzing data and construction drafting, and his last employment was as a certified bus driver for the Mesa School District, giving him the opportunity to invite our younger folks to speak with civility, gratitude, and friendliness.   This began with, “My name is Mr. Garber, thank you.”

Skip was a great friend to many musicians in the Valley and he will be greatly missed every time they play. He is survived by his Brother Lloyd Garber and sister-in-law Betty in Texas, niece Babette Marie Wilson and nephew Gayland Scott Garber and his wife Andrea.