January 12, 2015
January 12, 2015
Melissa was a wonderful role model for the swimmers at the Y, in her swimming skills as well as her smile and positive attitude. It was an honor to know her.
This memorial website was created in memory of our loved one, Melissa Hall, 70, born on January 11, 1944 and passed away on November 15, 2014. We will remember her forever. We will have a memorial service for Melissa at St. Luke's Episcopal Church on December 20th at 11:00 am. The address is 5710 22nd Ave. N.W. Seattle , WA. 98107. We plan on having a gathering of friends and family in Mount Vernon as well for those that can not travel. At some point, when the weather cooperates, we will sprinkle Mom's ashes at her favorite hiking spot in Alger, north of Mount Vernon, according to her wishes.
I have so enjoyed spending the past five months with my mom. She finally decided to move back to Texas after breaking her hip about a year ago. We have had so much fun watching movies together, eating hot fudge sundaes in the convertible, swimming together and taking walks. I was always trying to get mom to stop wearing the men's Seahawks shirts and wear something more ladylike, but she would always end up in her "Hawks" t-shirts, forever loyal to the Washington state teams!
Mom had to be so brave to move here and leave her family in Washington. She left behind both of my brothers, Jon and Pete and his wife, Kristin, and her two grandsons, Nathaniel and Zachary. She also sadly had to leave my Aunt Marian and Uncle Jim and her nephew Danny and that was very hard on her. She also missed her friends in the beautiful town of Mount Vernon, Washington. She loved working at the Mt. Vernon Libaray and had many friends there.
Mom faithfully attended various churches in the area and was a devoted Christian throughout her life. She loved to hike with her church friends on the weekends and enjoyed many prayer groups with them. I know that she felt like a part of their families and was treated like a cherished family member.
Mom became a very good swimmer in her later years and loved to swim at the YMCA. She had many friends there and she enjoyed going on trips around town and out to lunch.
Mom lived at Logan Creek Retirement home in Mt. Vernon and also at Parkwood Meadows in Round Rock, Texas where she had many sweet friends to lunch with.
Tributes
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January 1, 2015
January 1, 2015
I had the pleasure of spending time with Melissa on only a handful of occasions. Liz and I met in high school, so my remembrances of Melissa are of her driving us somewhere before we could drive ourselves, or more recently, of her accompanying Liz as we visited together.
What I most recall is that Melissa had a bubbly-ness to her, with a quick laugh, sparkly eyes, and such a pretty face. I am full of thanks for the qualities of goodness, cheer, and a certain amount of fearlessness that I hear she had, because I imagine she must have passed on these traits that I admire so much in my friend, Liz.
What I most recall is that Melissa had a bubbly-ness to her, with a quick laugh, sparkly eyes, and such a pretty face. I am full of thanks for the qualities of goodness, cheer, and a certain amount of fearlessness that I hear she had, because I imagine she must have passed on these traits that I admire so much in my friend, Liz.
December 1, 2014
December 1, 2014
Hey your smile ....it won't be the same without your smile....it is everywhere in the pictures...it will be what I look for when finding you with the Lord ...miss you though you were a balance here for me...yet you sure knew how to love...all the best ones go before us
November 27, 2014
November 27, 2014
Mellisa,it is difficult to comprehend that your infectious laugh has been silenced. You will forever be remembered by those who loved you and you are missed at the dinner table
November 26, 2014
November 26, 2014
Melissa was a very special woman. When she learned that I was formerly a pastor in the Presbyterian church she began recognizing me as "Pastor George." Of course, I've been recognized as Pastor George for some time, but her recognition of my calling had special meaning to me. There was a special sincerity to her recognition that I can say I'd never truly appreciated with my former parishioners. She was always in attendance and engaged in my Bible studies. She looked forward to them and was genuinely disappointed when I had to take a night off. He warm and joyful spirit, I believe, overcame any discomfort, anxiety and doubt that she had in life. I'm going to miss her physical presence but know that her spirit and her devotion to the Lord will be constant reminders to persevere and to look forward to the day when my Maker will also call me home. Then I shall sit at table with Him and see my friend Melissa sitting across from me, smiling and saying, 'You're going to love it here, Pastor George. Welcome home!
Many blessings to Melissa's family and friends. May you experience profound peace and assurance of her heavenly rest and your faithful reunion with her in the Lord's time.
Many blessings to Melissa's family and friends. May you experience profound peace and assurance of her heavenly rest and your faithful reunion with her in the Lord's time.
November 23, 2014
November 23, 2014
23 November 2014.
The CoolPoolPeople at the Skagit YMCA in Mount Vernon, WA, will miss our friend. Melissa was a regular, then an outstanding swimmer who surpassed us all! She had to pull back when she had some infirmities, and it broke our hearts to see her with a walker while her hip healed. Blessed with perfect hair and a lovely, trim swimsuit body, Melissa was respected by everyone at the "Y." I still have 3 blue glass candle holders on my windowsill with which she gifted me on my birthday -- for those windy times when the lights go out on Cook Road. I am not sure Melissa ever understood my irony, but she did have a unique laugh that I'll always remember from the showers! How I wish I had her smooth swimming skills... Kudos for the family for sharing so many photos of our friend, as we did not know her family. I agree that she loved and missed her work at the MV City Library. We spoke of it often. May Melissa rest in peace. Susan Redd.
The CoolPoolPeople at the Skagit YMCA in Mount Vernon, WA, will miss our friend. Melissa was a regular, then an outstanding swimmer who surpassed us all! She had to pull back when she had some infirmities, and it broke our hearts to see her with a walker while her hip healed. Blessed with perfect hair and a lovely, trim swimsuit body, Melissa was respected by everyone at the "Y." I still have 3 blue glass candle holders on my windowsill with which she gifted me on my birthday -- for those windy times when the lights go out on Cook Road. I am not sure Melissa ever understood my irony, but she did have a unique laugh that I'll always remember from the showers! How I wish I had her smooth swimming skills... Kudos for the family for sharing so many photos of our friend, as we did not know her family. I agree that she loved and missed her work at the MV City Library. We spoke of it often. May Melissa rest in peace. Susan Redd.
November 22, 2014
November 22, 2014
Melissa truly made a difference in this world. She left behind millions of small kindnesses - often given to people who rarely received them. She reached out to the homeless, the mentally ill, the sick and the elderly. It was clear that she wanted to live her life by the golden rule and I believe she truly succeeded. May she rest in peace.
November 22, 2014
November 22, 2014
I loved my grandma because she was always nice. She was fun to play games with. She was fun in every way. Love, Nate
November 22, 2014
November 22, 2014
We remember Melissa as a sweet wonderful woman with a smile that was always lighting up her face. When she came to our cottage she had a great time and just loved floating in the water on one of the many noodles. She would talk and laugh and have a wonderful time. We'll all miss her and her gentle ways. Love ya Melissa
November 21, 2014
November 21, 2014
Grandma Melissa showed us the value of a good sense of humor. Even when she was upset, she could always laugh at herself.
She was the coolest babysitter we ever had. A visit from Grandma meant reruns of the ultra-violent Walker Texas Ranger or the melodramatic JAG. She may have had a little bit of a crush on badass SFPD detective, Nash Bridges.
Despite living thousands of miles away, she invariably observed my birthday with a card and a check for fifteen dollars annotated with "Deposit this!" and a little smiley face.
She displayed a rare degree of empathy for everyone she came in contact with. She effortlessly befriended the homeless regulars at her library, people with living lifestyles, and of course her grandchildren.
She was also fearless. I remember watching her perform some sort of interpretive dance involving colorful flags in front a church congregation. Her attitude enabled a truly unencumbered display of faith through motion, despite no formal training.
I'm struck by her consistent effortless kindness. There was never any sort of calculation. If she had the power to help, she would. That is greatest lesson Grandma Melissa taught us.
She was the coolest babysitter we ever had. A visit from Grandma meant reruns of the ultra-violent Walker Texas Ranger or the melodramatic JAG. She may have had a little bit of a crush on badass SFPD detective, Nash Bridges.
Despite living thousands of miles away, she invariably observed my birthday with a card and a check for fifteen dollars annotated with "Deposit this!" and a little smiley face.
She displayed a rare degree of empathy for everyone she came in contact with. She effortlessly befriended the homeless regulars at her library, people with living lifestyles, and of course her grandchildren.
She was also fearless. I remember watching her perform some sort of interpretive dance involving colorful flags in front a church congregation. Her attitude enabled a truly unencumbered display of faith through motion, despite no formal training.
I'm struck by her consistent effortless kindness. There was never any sort of calculation. If she had the power to help, she would. That is greatest lesson Grandma Melissa taught us.
November 17, 2014
November 17, 2014
To write this note means to accept Melissa has gone ahead. Before Steve and I married, I remember staying with Melissa and Craig in Bellevue....I guess we all grew up together. Marrying and divorcing twice, Craig and Melissa forever loved each other but because of their differences found living together difficult. Together they created three gifts of God in their children. I forever will remember Melissa's vitality, giggle, love of life and of the Lord. She left too soon but she is now with the Lord she loved so much.
November 17, 2014
November 17, 2014
Since Liz was my best friend in high school, I had a lot of opportunities to interact with Melissa when i spent time at her house. She always had a smile and welcomed me warmly into her home. As the years went on, my family became Liz's family and vice versa due to the amount of time we spent with one another. Melissa was so wonderfully different from my Mom whom I thought, at the time, only ever cooked and cleaned. Melissa ran in 10K races with her daughter, worked outside the home and made terrific salads. Most importantly, at a time in my life when I so desperately needed to be liked and accepted for who I was, Melissa always took interest in how I was doing. Being beautiful strawberry blonde, Melissa always commented on my dark hair. One day, she gave me darling,handmade raggedy Ann and Andy dolls with dark, curly hair just like my own. What a wonderful gesture and validation to a teenage girl that only wished she could have any hair but her own! I am so glad to have these dolls by which to always remember her. I would anyway, though. She's just not a person you ever forget.
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Recent Tributes
January 12, 2015
January 12, 2015
Melissa was a wonderful role model for the swimmers at the Y, in her swimming skills as well as her smile and positive attitude. It was an honor to know her.
January 1, 2015
January 1, 2015
I had the pleasure of spending time with Melissa on only a handful of occasions. Liz and I met in high school, so my remembrances of Melissa are of her driving us somewhere before we could drive ourselves, or more recently, of her accompanying Liz as we visited together.
What I most recall is that Melissa had a bubbly-ness to her, with a quick laugh, sparkly eyes, and such a pretty face. I am full of thanks for the qualities of goodness, cheer, and a certain amount of fearlessness that I hear she had, because I imagine she must have passed on these traits that I admire so much in my friend, Liz.
What I most recall is that Melissa had a bubbly-ness to her, with a quick laugh, sparkly eyes, and such a pretty face. I am full of thanks for the qualities of goodness, cheer, and a certain amount of fearlessness that I hear she had, because I imagine she must have passed on these traits that I admire so much in my friend, Liz.
December 1, 2014
December 1, 2014
Hey your smile ....it won't be the same without your smile....it is everywhere in the pictures...it will be what I look for when finding you with the Lord ...miss you though you were a balance here for me...yet you sure knew how to love...all the best ones go before us
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Recent stories
Running
November 22, 2014
by Kristin Hall
Melissa was a dedicated runner for much of her life. Including when her kids were young. She got up very early in the morning to run before she had to make breakfast and get her kids off to school.
In the northwest, it is very dark in the morning for much of the year. Melissa would head out in the pitch black darkness and hit the pavement to run. Her son Pete, started to get worried about his mom's safety out in the dark each morning. He was about 8 or 10 years old when he decided that he would run with her! Pete loved his mom dearly. There are not many young kids who would wake up early to run miles and miles in the darkness before school!
Pete, inspired by his mom and sister Elizabeth, became an amazing athlete. Melissa, Elizabeth and Pete would even do running races together.
Life is made up of special memories
November 19, 2014
by Kristin Hall
Melissa always had a smile, a kind word, a compliment and a hug for me whenever I saw her. She also never failed to have fun and laugh - this I will miss the most. Some of my favorite memories...
- Meeting Melissa for the first time. She asked me when Pete and I would be getting married. She was eager for some more grandbabies :)
- Introducing her to her grandbabies. She held and rocked her grandsons with such tenderness and love.
- Hiking up a mountain trail with Melissa near Mount Vernon - and struggling to keep up with her!
- Sharing good books with Melissa. She was a fellow reader and book-lover.
- Hearing her infectious laughter. Usually after a slightly inappropriate joke or comment :)
- Watching her talk intently with her grandsons about "Candy Crush" video game strategies.
- Listening to her tell stories about when she was a girl. Once she and a friend forged notes from their mothers and skipped school for the day :)
- Seeing her smile and laugh as her grandsons jumped on the bed in the morning - wanting her to wake up and play with them. The boys loved their grandma for her wonderful playfulness and sense of humor. They will miss her dearly.
Lost hamster
November 18, 2014
I am writing this one to lighten the mood. My dad and I always loved animals but because my mom was allergic to animal fur, she didn't really appreciate a house and yard full of them. But slowly and surely we wore mom down. We had 3 ducks in the back yard, our dog Heather with puppies, my hamster, and maybe cats too.
I loved to play with my hamster as a kid and neglected to latch the trap door one day after letting him out. We were sleeping peacefully when we heard this blood curdling scream. Mom had stepped on little Hairy on the way to the bathroom in the dark hallway. She was more than just a little upset.
I think after that she made us get rid of all the pets but it was pretty great while it lasted.