Melissa Lynn Kizer

Melissa Lynn Kizer was born on August 5, 1960, to Wiltsie and Reida Haley in Altus, OK. She went to be with her Savior, Jesus, on June 27, 2023. She spent her early childhood years in Plainview, Texas; Liberal, Kansas; and Hobart, Oklahoma. She was baptized in the Baptist Church and attended several Presbyterian churches over the years.

Melissa was active in her years attending Cordell High School. She graduated in 1978. Upon graduating, Melissa began a career in banking at Cordell National Bank. In 1985, she went to work for the Presbyterian Health Foundation (PHF) on the Health Science Center campus and worked there for more than 25 years as a grants administrator.

Melissa loved making things beautiful. In her career, her great joy was planning and hosting the annual PHF Christmas party at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. In her life as a whole, there was nothing she considered more beautiful than her daughter, Morgan, and grandchildren, Carter and Madalynn.

Diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1990, Melissa exhibited tremendous courage and strength through surgery, treatments and an astonishing number of years in remission. Her illness did not slow Melissa down as she continued to be known for her excellent work at PHF for 15 years following her cancer diagnosis.

Melissa was preceded in death by her father, Wiltsie Joe Haley, stepmother, Jeannie, and her adoptive father, Ray Lockwood Jones, Jr.

Melissa is survived by her mother, Reida June Jones, her daughter, Morgan (Russell) Fernando, and husband Bob, grandson, Carter Fernando, granddaughter, Madalynn Fernando; brother Matt Jones and wife Gayle; sister Erin Jones-Slatev, and husband Patrick; sister Brooke Raymond, brother Blake Haley, brother Brett Haley and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is set for 2:00pm on July 21 at First Presbyterian Church in Edmond, Oklahoma.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.baggerley.com for the Kizer family.