Melissa "Mizzer" Allen Hoon

She was born on July 9, 1979, in Miami, Florida, to Kay and Allen Hoon.

Melissa spent the first years of her life in South Florida where she and her sister spent their days playing in the pool and being entertained by their loving grandparents, JP and Lolo Robertson.

She began her love of horses during her first sleep away camp at age 7. Soon after that the family relocated to North Carolina where she acquired her first horse (an Arabian named Callie). She continued riding her entire life on a series of horses,and loved to compete in her chosen sport – Eventing.

Melissa graduated from Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina with top honors and in the National Honor Society. She obtained an academic scholarship to The University of Texas at Arlington, where she studied Political Science and English, graduating Cum Laude. While at UTA she participated in several campus organizations and was an active member of the Delta Zeta sorority.

Upon graduation from UTA, Melissa was accepted at the SMU Dedman School of Law. During her tenure she studied abroad at Oxford for one semester. Melissa graduated from SMU in 2004 and began her career as an attorney.

Melissa is survived by her parents, Kay and Allen Hoon; her sister, Allison Hoon Peev; her niece, Katherine Hoon; and her partner, Randy Lysdale ,all of whom appreciate the outpouring of sympathy and concerns from Melissa’s many friends and extended family members.

The visitation will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 ,at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, also at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home chapel. Interment will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA.