Melissa was born in Dallas, TX on November 5, 1970, a Thursday’s child.
She was raised in Lewisville, TX, graduated high school where she participated in track and softball. She was active in clubs and yearbook staff. Her high school years were her glory days and to this day she maintains many friendships.
Melissa attended the Garden Ridge Church of Christ in Lewisville.
In 1987 she followed her paternal family to Pennsylvania, living with her grandparents in Clarksville and later in Aliquippa with her father and step-mother.
She attended the Community College of Beaver County, studying early childhood development. She worked in the service industry in Aliquippa and Monaca areas where she married Dean E. Lutz, and then divorced.
Michael Arnold Caleb Giles was born to her and Michael Giles in 2004. She was especially proud of her son and his accomplishments. They moved to Meadville and took up residence while working at Allegheny College. She maintained residency in Meadville until 2023, moving back to Ambridge and working at the local grocery store alongside her son.
In the fall of 2023 she was diagnosed with lung cancer and moved to her father’s home so she could be taken care of. Her cancer was attributed to smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke in the restaurants and bars where she worked.
She is survived by her son, MAC Giles of Ambridge; father and step-mother, Robert “Bobby G” (Natalie Swan) Greenlee of Clarksville; mother, Marilyn Cowling Greenlee of Lewisville, TX; a brother, Brian (Michelle) Greenlee of Conway; a sister, Rachel Greenlee (fiancée Alex Becka) of Jefferson; uncles, John Greenlee of Clarksville, Frank R. Cowling of Alamogordo, NM; aunt, Lisa Cowling Tittle of Lewisville, TX; a niece, Ashlee (Nate) Greenlee-Jones of Ambridge; a great niece and nephew, Lily and Liam Jones; her special friends, Dusti Bedilion, Robin Johnson and Michelle Dupree; her care taking angels, Diana Morton, Tracy Walters, Jodi Lalama, aunt Lisa, “Gammy” Pam and “Duke”.
Deceased are her paternal grandparents, Bob and Betty Arnold Greenlee; maternal grandmother, Emily (Bowers) Cowling Traynor.
The family would like to express their thanks to Waynesburg Health Care and Rehabilitation, and Amedisys Hospice.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 2:00 pm at Ozy’s Bar & Grill, 415 Pitt Gas Rd., Clarksville, PA 15322. Private arrangements have been entrusted to the Behm Funeral Home, 1477 Jefferson Rd., Jefferson, PA 15344, Gregory P. Rohanna, supervisor. Condolences may be expressed online at www.behm-funeralhomes.com.
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