Melissa Constance Moore

Melissa Constance Moore, age 68, passed away at home on Thursday, March 19, 2026. Melissa was born on October 8, 1957 in Fort Worth, Texas. She was the second daughter of George and Elizabeth Elder. When Melissa was nine years old, the Elder family moved to Bellevue, Washington to be closer to Elizabeth’s sister.

Melissa graduated from Newport High School (Bellevue, WA) in 1976. From 1980 to 1986 she was married to Paul Gering. Shortly after high school, Melissa began working at Puget Sound Energy (PSE), where she worked for 40 years. At PSE, she spent many years handling the customer phone lines before transferring to the corporate credit department and finally settling into a position in Maps and Records.

It was at PSE in the late 1980’s that Melissa met the love of her life, John Moore. After a long courtship, Melissa and John were married on December 29, 2010. In marrying John, Melissa gained her step-daughter, Jennifer. Family was very important to Melissa. Her smile lit up many birthday and holiday celebrations and her quick wit kept the mood fun. Around the year 2000, Melissa took a leave of absence from work in order to care for her ailing mother who was dealing with advanced cancer.

After losing her mom in 2001, Melissa funneled her energy into updating and remodeling the family home. Melissa had a special talent for home decor. She especially loved decorating for Christmas and displaying her treasure trove of exquisite ornaments on the Christmas tree.

Melissa loved to bake, cook, and host dinner parties. She regularly scoured cookbooks searching for new recipes while also keeping the traditional family favorites alive. Melissa was a friend to animals and doted over her beloved pet cats, especially “Lucy". She enjoyed shopping, reading, and getting together with friends. What Melissa liked best was her daily life with John. They shared their love of watching TV shows and movies, gardening, camping and travelling. A favorite destination was Utah, particularly Bryce Canyon National Park.

Melissa retired from PSE in December 2019. She and John had big plans for travel and extended camping trips, including cross-country adventures with their dear friends Leslie and Anthony. Melissa talked about going on a safari with Leslie. Sadly, a couple of debilitating strokes beginning in January 2020 cut all these plans short. After an extended hospital stay, Melissa spent her last years living in adult family homes with John by her side. Melissa remained kind and gracious despite the physical hardships she faced after her strokes. She kept her sense of humor which warmed the hearts of the staff who cared for her in her final years.

Melissa was preceded in death by her sister Denise Elder and her parents George and Elizabeth Elder. She leaves behind to mourn her passing, her husband John Moore, her step-daughter Jennifer (Brandon) Baker, and many friends and extended family members. Melissa will be laid to rest at Sunset Hills Memorial Park (Bellevue, WA) near the grave sites of her sister, mother, father and maternal grandmother.