Melanie Owen Webre

Melanie Owen Webre, 58, passed away peacefully at her home in Fort Smith on the morning of July 11, 2021 surrounded by loved ones after a heroic 10 month battle with cancer. She is survived by her loving husband, Matthew Thomas Webre of Fort Smith, her two sons, Barret (Rebecca) Miller of Springdale and Michael Miller of Fort Smith, her grandson Wesley James Miller, her father Thomas Cline Owen Jr. of Fort Smith, her brother Thomas Cline (April) Owen III of Little Rock, and her niece Ashley Owen (Jacob) North, and nephew Thomas Cline Owen IV of Little Rock, along with countless other loved ones whose lives she touched. She is preceded in death by her mother, Lucy Jane Owen of Fort Smith, her maternal grandmother Madeline Markle Johnson, and her paternal grandmother Marian Pugh Owen.

Melanie was born, grew up, and lived most of her life in Little Rock, attending Jefferson Elementary and Mount Saint Mary’s High School as part of the class of 1981. She attended the University of Arkansas (‘84) where she studied journalism and became a member of the Phi Mu sorority. Of course, she was a life long Razorback fan. Melanie raised her two boys in Little Rock, and married the love of her life, Matthew Webre, on October 28, 2000. Melanie and Matthew moved to Fort Smith eight years ago. Melanie’s family and her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ meant everything to her. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and pet owner. During the last two and a half years of her life, her heart overflowed with joy at being a grandmother. Her huge heart and selflessness led her to serve others professionally and voluntarily throughout her life as well. Most recently, Melanie worked in home health care at Area Agency in Fort Smith, helping care for the elderly and terminally ill. She worked at Area Agency until she left to provide full time care for her mother. Always a lover of animals, she worked at Rodney Parham Animal Clinic in Little Rock. Melanie also cooked countless meals for church dinners and other special events along with her mother as part of the Kitchen Committee at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church. A highlight of her service to her church was her mission to Chiapas, Mexico, where she communed in Christ and helped build a church with the villagers there. She brought beautiful music to others and received great joy from singing in the choir. In recent months during her battle with cancer, Melanie took great strength, comfort, and companionship from her weekly Bible study group. Melanie was a very talented artist, and she was able to express her creativity professionally during her time at the Maumelle Monitor where she designed print advertisements for the newspaper. Melanie also spent many years in retail working at Dillard's and later managing Stone County Ironworks’ River Market location in Little Rock. Melanie’s creativity and her nurturing spirit extended to her hobbies as well. She loved to draw and photograph pictures of her animals and her garden. Melanie loved cooking meals for her family and nurturing her garden. It brought her joy to share her tomatoes, green beans, jalapeños and other vegetables, herbs, and spices with her friends and family.