Melissa Claire Gossett

Melissa Gossett passed away on April 6th after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Bess Rice, and her brother Gary Rice. Melissa grew up in Duarte, California, graduated from Duarte High School in 1971 and Chico State University in 1977. She then moved to Sonoma County, attended Sonoma State University and received her teaching credential in 1981. After substituting for a short time, she received her first permanent teaching position at Minnie Cannon Elementary in Middletown, CA. She then moved to the city of Sonoma, which she called her home for many years, and got a job teaching Kindergarten for Sonoma Valley USD. Her second year there, she found her loving teaching home at Dunbar School in Glen Ellen, where she taught for 26 years, mostly with her partner and forever friend Sandi Everett. She has been fondly remembered by past students and parents as a kind, caring, and supportive teacher who gave her all to her classroom and students.
During those years, she also helped raise a family. Dustin was born in 1986 and then Brandon was adopted 10 years later in 1996. The two were the light of her life and she adored them, as they did her. Melissa was a very active person, enjoying walking, bike riding, folk dancing, music and traveling. Two of her favorite ventures were travels to Mexico City and France, where she made many friends with her outgoing, warm hearted nature.
In her later years, Melissa struggled with various health issues, which slowed down her physical activity but not her love of family, friends and life. After being cared for by her son Dustin for many years, she spent her last year in the Modesto area, eventually residing in the loving care of her brother Kevin and his wife Lori and a hospice and comfort care support staff that was second to none.
Melissa is survived by her sons Dustin and Brandon Gossett (Hannah Kahler), brother Kevin Rice (Lori), sister Sue Fleming, sister-in-law Mary Rice, grandson River Gossett, many nieces and nephews, former husband Bob Gossett and close friends Sandi Everett, Ginny Von Der Schmidt and Jude Johnson. A memorial celebrating Melissa's life will be held in the near future.