Melinda Miller Coleman Obituary (1947 - 2016)

Melinda Miller Walton Coleman passed away peacefully at home in her bed on July 24, 2016. Love was all around her when she passed as she was surrounded by most of her children and grandchildren as well as her beloved cat, Fluffy. Just days before her death, she attended her daughter Molly’s wedding and celebrated her 69th birthday with her family. Melinda was born at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank, California on July 21, 1947 and grew up in North Hollywood and Somis, California where she attended Camarillo High School. On a recent trip down memory lane, Melinda visited her former high school and shared with her family fun memories of when she was in the Latin club and was the Secretary of the Pep Club. She also loved working as a lifeguard at the local pool in the summers during high school. After high school, Melinda joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and moved to Provo, Utah where she attended BYU and married John Walton (and later divorced). She was the proud mother of seven children and 19 grandchildren. Melinda was passionate about her LDS faith, sewing, classical music, her family and her cats. She never missed a birthday and made everyone in the family feel special with her creative gifts. A devout Mormon, Melinda’s service to the church and her faith included acting as Young Women’s President for the Edgemont 11th Ward in Provo in the 80s, being a Primary and Young Women’s teacher and singing in the church choir. She also cherished serving as a Temple Worker for the Mount Timpanogos Temple in American Fork until her health prevented her from continuing. Melinda was an accomplished seamstress, known for sewing exquisite wedding dress. She made most of her children’s clothes when they were young. Her grandchildren now each have a treasure trove of beautiful, creative and unique knitted and homemade stuffed animals and dolls that Melinda loved creating year round until she could physically no longer make them. Melinda taught her daughters how to sew and knit, and that legacy is being passed on to her granddaughters. Her ability to listen without judgment was one of Melinda’s greatest virtues. She was very kind, sweet and loving to everyone she met. Her door was always open to anyone and that even included cats. At one point she had as many as six cats at a time, prompting her kids to joke with her that she was a crazy cat lady. One of the most adventurous things Melinda did at the surprise of her children was bungee jump from one of the world’s tallest bungee jumps while on a trip to New Zealand several years ago. Melinda was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis Interstitial Lung Disease in 2013. Her health rapidly declined from March 2016 until her passing. The night of her passing, fireworks from the local Pioneer Day celebration were going off and Melinda’s grandkids mentioned that fireworks will be a nice reminder of this exceptional and lovely woman. She was loved by many and she will always be deeply missed. Melinda was preceded in death by her parents Mary Fraser (Betsy) and Carl Miller and her sister Joyce Miller Dickerson. Melinda is survived by her children, Marcy, Angela, Jennie, Tad, Adam, Brett and Molly; brother Doug, four nieces and nephews and 19 grandchildren. Pulmonary Specialist Dr. Mary Beth Scholand, MD at the University of Utah Pulmonary Division provided above and beyond expert care, giving Melinda’s family constant peace of mind that she was in good hands. To show their sincere gratitude for the wonderful care Melinda received, the family asks that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made in Melinda’s name to University of Utah Interstitial Lung Disease Research Fund http://medicine.utah.edu/internalmedicine/giving The family would also be honored if any donations be made in her name to any humane society. Graveside services will be held Thursday, July 28, 2016 at 11:00a.m. at the Kaysville City Cemetery 500 Crestwood Rd, Kaysville, UT.