Melissa Ann Tate

Melissa was born in Muncie to Gene and Karen Moore on July 30. 1977. She graduated from Yorktown High School in 1995. She married her loving husband, Dustin Tate, on September 30, 2006 and shared nearly 20 years of happiness with him. She was employed at AZZ Galvanizing in Muncie as the Office Manager.

Melissa found much joy in her family and was proud of each one. She was a fanatical Soccer Mom who cheered at son Justin's and daughter Kaylin's soccer matches. She also was in the bleachers at Kaylin's basketball games and Justin's track meets cheering for them.

Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts was a huge part of Melissa's life. She was a Girl Scout as a youth and was serving as a Girl Scout leader at the time of her death. She was guiding Kaylin to the Girl Scout Gold Award. She also served as the treasurer of Justin's Boy Scout Troop and led him to the rank of Eagle Scout.

Melissa loved traveling and always made sure the family took time to have a yearly summer vacation as well as Spring and Fall breaks. A lover of the outdoors, she and family visited 52 of the 63 National Parks and over 200 National sites. She got her children into 49 states making Dustin stop at every National Park or site sign to get Justin and Kaylin's pictures in front of them. Her goal of getting the family to every National Park and all 50 states was cut short by the cancer.

Melissa is preceded in death by grandparents William and Violet Moore and Robert Bradfield and Mary Harnish and Charles and Alice Purkiser, father -in - law Lenuel Tate as well as a special nephew Tyler Moore, best friend Nicole Keating and Aunt Malinda Purkiser.

Melissa is survived by husband Dustin, son Justin and daughter Kaylin, sister Michelle Cropper (Rodney), parents Gene and Karen Moore, mother - in - law Georgia Tate as well as several aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Visitation will be from 4PM-7PM on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at Elm Ridge Funeral Home, 4600 W. Kilgore Ave.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday August 7, 2026 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Muncie at 11AM with visitation one hour before mass. Fr. Christian DeCarlo will be the celebrant. Burial will follow in Elm Ridge Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to Boy Scout Troop 69, 2301 South Broadway, Yorktown, IN 47396 or the American Cancer Society. The family of Melissa wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Chang and Nurse Zach at University Hospital in Indianapolis for their guidance and loving care of Melissa.