My mom was a tiny firecracker, so full of energy, humor and love for everyone she came to know. Her beautiful life began on June 28, 1958. She is the only girl and surrounded by 3 brothers who adore her and probably were strong contributers to her toughness.  Her parents are Robert and Marlys and of course she was their princess.  She graduated from Red Bluff High School in 1976 and had her first child, Stephen the following November. Next came me (Melissa) in 1978. Just 14 months apart, I'm sure my mom had her hands full. She was a hard working person and raised us to be the same.  She was proud of us for everything we did, no matter how small and praised us frequently. She never missed a chance to cuddle us and tell us she loved us.  She sang us silly songs, (louse bed, forehead, eye winker, tom tinker, nose k, mouth eater chin chopper, gully gully gully) which we passed on to our kids. She always reminded us that we were her sunshine, her only sunshine but in reality, she is ours. She loved her grandkids, nieces and nephews and would spoil the heck out of them. She was also fortunate to be able to spend the last 17 years with Richard who she adored.  She spent the last week of her life on vacation, enjoying nature with the love of her life. Although her passing is a tragedy, far too soon and there are so many things I wish I would have said, I take comfort in knowing that she is now with me at all times and she is now tending to her garden in heaven.