Melissa Dawn Jones, daughter of Tracie (Fred) Cartwright and Charles (Susie) Kirby all of East Prairie, Missouri was born September 1, 1985, in Sikeston, Missouri and departed this life on May 14, 2022, at her residence in East Prairie, Missouri, at the age of 36.
Melissa worked as a dispatcher for Johnston Transportation LLC in East Prairie, Missouri until her illness forced her to retire. She fought a hard fight during her battle with cancer and was surrounded by her family and friends until the very end. She loved her children, family, and friends with everything she had and will be missed dearly by them all.
She is survived by two daughters, Laila Weakley and Harper Garnett of East Prairie; by one son, Grae Tatum of East Prairie; six sisters, Nicki (Nelson) Jones, Courtney Thresher, Chelsea (Kody) Kirby, Teri (Tommy) Cade, all of East Prairie, Amber (Thomas) Brown of Atlanta, Georgia and Kaylie Carlyle of Paxton, Nebraska; four brothers, Scotty Carlyle of New Madrid, Missouri, Kolton Carlyle of Paxton, Nebraska, Frankie Nave and Cody Nave of East Prairie, Missouri; fiancé, Johnny Tatum; Jaclyn Warren and Jeremy (Erin) Warren, of East Prairie, who were like her brother and sister; Brooklyn Irby and Aubreigh McMikle special nieces; five nieces, eight nephews; special cousin, Holly Childers.
She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Martha Brown and Paul Stiltz; paternal grandparents, Ellen Williams and Bo Kirby.
Pallbearers will be Nelson McMikle, Frank Nave, Cody Nave, Kody Riley, Robert Hinkle and Scotty Carlyle.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eric Johnston, Mason Johnston, Thomas Brown and Louis Kirby.
Visitation will be held Tuesday May 17, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Power House of God Church in East Prairie, Missouri.
Funeral services will then be conducted at the Power House of God Church on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with Bro. Jimmy Allen officiating.
Burial will follow at the East Prairie Memorial Park Cemetery.
The family requests that no one wear black to the funeral.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
