Melanie J Coldren

Melanie Jane Coldren was born in Oklahoma City on August 25, 1950, and passed away peacefully on August 5, 2026, with her family by her side. Melanie’s first and last days were spent on the same plot of land at Northwest 63rd and Penn—her first years spent on the grounds of the Oklahoma Baptist Orphans Home where her father lived and worked, and her last years at the Mansions at Waterford where she received excellent, loving care.

Melanie’s professional life centered on the students, families, and graduate assistants at Edmond Regional Preschool, a satellite school of Oklahoma School for the Deaf. Young children were not the only ones who learned under Melanie’s instruction. Parents and grandparents learned to communicate with their children through sign language. Future speech pathologists, Deaf educators, and audiologists were taught to believe in each child’s full potential and learned to lead story time from the best in the business.

Melanie’s work extended beyond classroom instruction. She taught sign language classes at the University of Central Oklahoma, met with students’ families in their homes, and served as a faithful interpreter at First Presbyterian Church of Edmond.

While Melanie was highly respected in her field and loved her work, she was truly devoted to her family—her husband of 54 years, Mike Coldren; her children, Katie Morris, Michael Morris, and Amy Coldren; and her beloved granddaughters, Sophie, Mia, and Mila Kate. She adored her parents, Judson and Wanda Cook, her brother and sister-in-law, Jonathan and Sherri Cook, her niece, nephews, extended family, and lifelong friends.

While we are sad to say goodbye, we know that Melanie leaves behind a legacy of love, compassion, communication, and selflessness.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at Baggerley Funeral Home in Edmond. ASL interpretation will be provided. Instead of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Little Light House (littlelighthouse.org), Special Care (specialcareinc.org), or that you share a favorite book with a child you love.