Melissa "Missy" Mae Dunlap

She is survived by her loving husband, Gary "Bryan" Dunlap; her children, Steven (Tera) Hammond, Pamela Dunlap, Bryan Dunlap, Joshua (Lynda) Dunlap, and Jeffrey Dunlap; her parents, Richard and Barbara Hammond; and her siblings, Matt (Sabina) Hammond, Michelle (Joe) Disabato, and Marty (Jamie) Hammond. She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Leander.

Missy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her love lives on through her cherished grandchildren, Stephanie, Tyler, Samara, Breon, LeBron, Logan, Makayla, Riley, Mariah, Jake, Ava, and Landen, along with four great-grandchildren. Among them, Riley, whom Melissa and Gary adopted at birth, held a special place in her heart and was a continual source of pride and joy throughout her life.

Missy was the heart and soul of her family, the one who always knew what was needed and gave it without hesitation.

She was not only a mother, but also a guiding light to her children and grandchildren. She raised them with love in every packed lunch, wisdom in every life lesson, and strength in every hug. Missy also had the immeasurable joy of being “grandma” and “great-grandma.”

Missy was small in stature but mighty in presence. Her love was a force. Her home was the center of celebration, comfort, and countless memories, because she made it that way. With a heart wired for caregiving and a spunky, feisty spirit that made everyone around her feel alive, she fulfilled her purpose in life each day—raising and caring for her family with courage, compassion, and tireless energy.

Missy’s love wasn’t measured in grand gestures, but in everyday moments—the ones that quietly stitched her family together. Her presence lingers in the way her children love their own, in the traditions that carry on without needing explanation, and in the strength her family draws from knowing she gave them the very best of herself. Her story doesn’t end here—it lives on in every person she touched, and in every life made brighter by her care.

A celebration of life will be held in the coming weeks, with details to be announced at a later date.