Melinda Waite
September 22, 1951 - March 13, 2006

Life is like a painted canvas, colored by the experiences of each and every day. The canvas that was Melinda Lee Waite was vibrant and filled with beautiful colors and images. The part that was daughter blended with the part that was wife and flowed into the part that was mother. Her life was wonderful to see and brought joy to everyone around her. How blessed they were.

In the 1950's there was a fresh artistic outlook after World War II. Vibrant colors were everywhere, and the "impressionists" were coming into their own. Literature and education were also undergoing changes and all of these would have a profound affect on the life of Melinda Lee Waite.

Melinda was born September 22, 1951 in Dayton Ohio to John and Clair (Helz) Jacobi. John was a successful corporate lawyer while Clair cared for their home. Both were delighted when their first child was born, a little girl they named Melinda. A few years later, Melinda became big sister to Paula.

Melinda grew up in North Muskegon, Michigan and attended North Muskegon Public Schools. Melinda enjoyed her high school years, especially after she met Gary Waite at a party. Gary was immediately smitten by Melinda, whom he described as "a beautiful brunette, intelligent and had a really sharp mind." They dated on and off for a few years and then went their separate ways. Melinda continued her education at Muskegon Business College, studying computers, as well as taking classes at Muskegon Community College. Gary moved to Florida for a short while but then returned to the area. Gary again expressed his interest in Melinda and the two began dating more seriously. A romance soon blossomed and the two were married on July 21, 1973 in a small ceremony.

Both of the newly weds were hard workers. Gary worked in a machine shop and Melinda worked at Dresser Industries doing inside sales and also in the warranty service department. Melinda enjoyed dealing with the public and stayed with Dresser from 1973 to 1982. During this time, Melinda and Gary rented a house in Muskegon Heights, and made it their home for the next five years. They were a good match and enjoyed going out with their friends and socializing with other young couples. Summers would find them at the cottage owned by Gary's dad, on Hamlin Lake, swimming and water-skiing. On March 18, 1982, the little family of two became a family of three when Melinda gave birth to a beautiful baby boy they named John. She worked for a short time after John's birth but then decided she wanted to be a full time mother. Needing more room, the new family moved into their present home on Gibson in North Muskegon shortly after John was born.

When John became old enough for school, Melinda enrolled him in the Michigan Dunes Montessori School, which emphasizes the "whole child approach". The school also stresses the inclusion of parents in the child's education, and as Melinda got to know the staff, she began working at the school part-time. Impressed with her capabilities, the school soon hired Melinda to work full-time in the office. For the next 10 years, Melinda was able to work and be with John at the same time.

After the Montessori School, Melinda took a job at Lee Printing as a graphic artist. With a strong personal interest in art, it was the perfect job for her. She loved to paint, especially in the watercolor medium, and flowers were her favorite subject. Often times, she took photographs of flowers and other still life settings, then rendered them into beautiful watercolor pictures. Painting portraits never interested her. Although she described herself as a "struggling artist", she did sell several of her paintings in shops in Whitehall and the Lakeside area of Muskegon. As an artist, she was a member of the Art Society in Muskegon.

When not busy working, or painting, Melinda could often be found in the bedroom she turned into her quilt room. Furnished with a big table, she would sit and first sketch out the design in pencil. Then, going through the bags and bags of material she had, she would find just the right fabrics for making her quilt. Her quilts were a different kind of canvas for her to show off her beautiful "pictures". This very talented woman could also knit, making gorgeous sweaters and teddy bears. This was a specialty of Melinda's, and each bear was made from special wool that she purchased in Ludington. After the bear had been made, she would wet the wool and it would shrink into just the right shape. It took a special talent to do this and Melinda had blessed each member of her family with their own special bear.

Knowing the importance of a good education, Melinda was an avid reader. Her interests covered all genres from fiction to non-fiction. She had an incredible memory and could remember just about everything she read. People loved to talk to Melinda because her vast knowledge made her conversations lively and interesting. No matter what she was involved in, there was usually a cat close by. Melinda had a pair of Siamese cats that shared her company for over 20 years.

In 2003, some of the color went out of Melinda's life. She began feeling sick and one day, complaining of a headache, she went to Meijers to get something to ease the pain. Gary remembers that she called him from the store, saying she couldn't find the car. Then her eating habits began to change. After undergoing tests, it was discovered that Melinda had several tumors in her head. Tragically, she was then diagnosed with lung cancer. Not one to give up easily, Melinda under went Stereotactic radio surgery, which delivers single large doses, with the treatment requiring only one day, and chemotherapy, losing her hair on two different occasions. The treatments helped some, and Melinda astounded everyone when, after having been given six months to live, lived for three more years. She was even able to continue working at Lee Printing for a few hours each day.

Melinda and her son John had an especially close relationship, sometimes to the exclusion of Gary. She had taught her son how to write and how to use the computer. When she was diagnosed, John was a student at Olivet College, majoring in English. When told of his mother's condition, John quit school and came home to be with Melinda. With John and Gary by her side, Hospice was brought in, making the last few weeks a little easier for everyone. Melinda quietly slipped away on March 13, 2006.

Mrs. Melinda Lee Waite, age 54, died Monday, March 13, 2006. Her family includes her husband, Gary; son John Waite; parents, John & Claire Jacobi of North Carolina; 1 sister, Paula (Normand) Richard of North Carolina. There will be a Memorial Gathering on Thursday, March 16, 2006, from 7-9 PM at Clock Life Story Funeral Home. Please visit Melinda's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, sign the online guest book or make a memorial contribution to Hackley VNS Hospice House.

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