Melvin Lee Baum

Melvin Lee Baum was born April 3, 1962 to his parents Betty Lou Baum (nee Casey) and Clyde Melvin Baum in Kansas City. As a young child, he shared a home with his mom, dad, sister Angie, sister Sharon, and his uncle Ernest Casey, his “Uncle Boo.” In his formative years he lived in Kansas City then the family moved to Garnett, Kansas. There he spent his teenage years through high school, graduating from Garnett High School in 1980.

Mel pursued a Bachelors of Music Education and attended Pittsburg State University. The music department was very much a family, and that is also where he met his future wife, Linda.

Mel graduated with a Bachelors of Music Education in 1985 and began a teaching career in Wellsville, Kansas.

On June 13, 1987, he married Linda Renee Campbell, his wife of nearly 38 years. His teaching career ended for a pursuit of a passion for helping people in the mental health field. He returned to PSU and earned a Masters Degree in Music Education and a Masters Degree in Counseling.

He did, in fact, make good on that pursuit, and throughout a large number of years has been dedicated to helping people in any facet of mental health needs.

He partnered with Dr. David Sternberg to build a program to assist youth who might have in the end found themselves in the judicial system. The two partnered with schools to reach out to build the program. Mel was also trained and had a passion for experiential therapy.

During the Covid time, he transitioned to online therapy and since has helped numerous individuals and families working to assist in reaching their mental health goals.

Mel truly loved helping people. He was beyond dedicated to his clients, taking texts and phone calls at most anytime of the day or night, going above and beyond what most might do. In return, his clients were quite in a way dedicated to him, as they looked to him for guidance. Since his passing, his wife has received numerous responses that let her know what she already did, that her husband was a wonderful, kind and caring person.

Mel passed away unexpectedly while going out for a date with his wife on May 2, 2025. He has left a large hole in the hearts of his family, friends, and clients as well. He will, however, be well remembered for his jovial nature and his passions of music and the arts, mental health, the theater and drum corps.

He and Linda also loved to travel, enjoying one of his favorite spots, San Diego. They enjoyed many wonderful adventures together.

His wife, Linda, survives of the home, as well as their beloved dogs, Dixie and Taki and little bird, Coco.

He is also survived by two sisters, Sharon Deeds, of Shawnee, Kansas, and Shirley Ruiz (Pepo) of Kansas City, Kansas; his uncle, Ernest Casey (Butch) and aunt Delores Casey of Frontenac, Kansas, mother-in-law, Jan Campbell, and sister-in-law Suzanne Simpson, both of Leavenworth, Kansas; and a brother-in-law, Mark Muninger (Wendy), Alabama. Also surviving are nieces and nephews: Rodney Dickerson, Kansas City, Kansas, Chris Casey (Tina) Lee’s Summit, Missouri, Carrie McGowen (Brian), Frontenac, Kansas, Sherry Bell, Shawnee, Kansas, Larry Dickerson (Pam), Texas, as well as cousins, nieces, and nephews.

His father, Clyde Baum, mother Betty Holm (Baum), sister Angie Shill, brother-in-law Phil Deeds, mother-in-law, Dorothy (Dottie) Campbell and father-in-law Roland Campbell preceded him in death.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, May 14, from 5-7pm at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, KS 66210. Memorial contributions are suggested to Open Path Collective at openpathcollective.org

Mel will be cremated and a memorial remembrance will be held at a future date.