Mommy, thats what i knew her as. Or mom, sometimes Melinda. It depended on how mad I was at her.  We had our ups and downs my whole life. However, i loved her, and still do. She was the person I cried for when my brothers were picking on me, or when i got scared. She was the one I went to when I got hurt. I have so manygood memories when i was little of going driving. Or going to the pool in the summer time. She loved the water, lake, pool, ocean, she loved it. We would always stop at the quik trip at harry and hillside after swimming. She would refill her giant qt mug, and we would get snacks, like red laces and chips. Summers with her are some of my best memories. I love you, mommy. 

A favorite memory of Melinda is when she came to visit me in North Carolina; I think it was 1989.  We went to the beach and had the best time. I remember standing out in the water, just talking and enjoying the ocean. A group of pelicans started diving for fish all around us. They were so close we could almost touch them. It was amazing. We so enjoyed that day at the beach. 

I often forget how young my Mother was when I was born.  I remember her being the fun Mom at the school field trips when I was a student at Sunnyside Elementary.  These were some of my first memories of her unique driving style which was filled with expletives and the ever too present declaration that "it is the long, skinny pedal."  Anyone who was ever in a car with her will know it was a wonder to observe and a blessing to survive.

As I aged I based much of my sense of humor on things that would make her laugh.  Fortunately she had a dry wit and held few topics to be taboo.  So that even as she was in the hospital I joked about her illness with others without guilt because I know she would have laughed or fired off a reply to make us blush.   

I know now that those jokes were a way of talking about her condition without having to actually talk about my Mom dying.   I use the sense of humor she helped shape to assist with the grief I now feel.   Thank you Mom for still helping me.


 With the passing of my mother we all start a new journey into unchartered waters of life. Though she may not be here physically as a person, she left in our hearts a piece of her spirit and soul! I loved my mom with all my heart, even when I was upset at her. She will always have a special place in my heart that no other woman can take from her. I recently read that a man loves his sweetheart a lot, he loves his wife more, but he loves his mother the longest.  I can remember the look on her face when she realized it was me standing there in front of Reyes and Liz's place when I surprised her for mother's day and Reyes Jr. birthday! I will always remember our phone conversations after I moved to Colorado! I wish she could have visited but I have to credit her with my decision to move here bc I was in her womb the first time I visited this beautiful state. I don't know how many times I called her in the last 8 yrs to ask her if she had ever visited a place in Colorado. The response was always the same, " Yes. You were in my belly!"  I found my home in Colorado and I sure hope my mom is settling into her new home in Heaven with her mother(Grandma Dorothy), Aunt May, and my dog Marley!

This picture which is mostly Lil Reyes, is melinda(mom) riding the hayrack ride at the pumpkin patch October of 2017.

So Sorry to hear of Melinda's passing.  I knew her through Sunnyside Elementary and our kids. Prayers to the family.

Oh my sister,  I don't know what to share... we met my first week of deciding to go to college 15 yrs after high school ~ she was the other non-traditional student in my remedial algebra class at WSU,  sitting behind me with that big QT mug.  We hit it off instantly , and helped each other get thru school and life as comedy relief, and sharing hearts and shoulders to lean on when needed.  A lot of our memories are probably better off placed gently where they happened and left there, lol.  I am most grateful for the memories when I came out of the hospital in May,  until August.  Melinda showed up on my doorstep feeling like something wasn't right inside her, and wanting to make sure everything was right between us.  We spent 2-3 evenings a week sitting on my front porch bench talking and laughing about everything, and nothing.  Such a shining spirit, and I am so happy for you that you have shaken off the worries of life here, and made it home where you can fly free and beautiful!

Another friend has passed away. We are so shocked, We didn't know she was so sick. We remember the days when our kids were growing up together, the kids were always together. When we bowled on the couples bowling league together; the New Year's Eve Monopoly games and all the kids playing and having fun while "we adults" played the game. Going to the laundry mat on Saturdays together with her mom, eating breakfast while our clothes were washing.  Camping in Colorado, too many memories to mention them all. God bless you Melinda Wood Nelson, rest in peace old friend. Our condolences to the family.

Blessing,
Roger and Sheryle Bosley

OBITUARY

Melinda Ann Nelson

19 February, 1961 – 20 October, 2019

DeVorss Flanagan-Hunt Mortuary

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