Melissa Proctor

Melissa is smiling down from Heaven with love and joy for those who love and cherish her.

Always in my heart. I love knowing she is with Martha.

Reminiscing about your beautiful and amazing daughter Melissa, on this the four year anniversary of her passing through the veil. Remembering the fun high school times she shared with our daughter Tiffiny and the many times she was in our home. Such a joyful light she carried everywhere with her. Our love to you, her parents and extended family.
Mike and Lorraine Pinnell

I am so sorry.

Love and happiness forever

I know this isn't recent but I have just heard the news and I am so very sorry for your loss. It was a privilege for me to be Melissa's companion in the Tokyo South Mission in 1995 and I learned so much from her. I had to work to improve myself very quickly with her as she had such high expectations and set extraordinary goals. I had never met anyone so passionate about life until I met Melissa. I'll never forget our first Pday in the grocery store she stopped at the green, yellow and red peppers and held one up to her nose and said "Aren't these peppers just gorgeous? Don't they just make you happy? I think I must have helped create these in the pre-earth life because they just bring me so much joy." I remember thinking "Wow, all this love for a vegetable, I really need to step up my appreciation for the simple beauties in life." Another sweet memory I have is of a beautiful white shirt she wore. I always told her how much I loved it and I knew it was one of her favorites. A few weeks after she transferred to a new companion I saw her at a zone conference and she handed me a bag and a letter and told me to open it at home. When I got home she had written me the sweetest note thanking me for being her trainer and included it with the shirt as a gift for me. I cried happy tears and felt so loved and appreciated. She showed me such love and friendship. Even though her life was shorter than I would have hoped, I know she accomplished and felt a great deal more than some do in much longer years. Rest In Peace beautiful Melissa!! You are loved!

I am a graduate of holy cross and just learned about Melissa's death through the holy cross magazine. she was so young I couldn't believe that it was actually an obituary. Upon reading about her and her career and her interests she seemed like an amazing woman. My heart goes out to her parents and her family.

I am so, so sorry to read of Melissa's passing. I can't believe it. I knew her when I was a fellow at Princeton. I was just referring to her work when talking with a student and thought I would see what Melissa was doing. She was a wonderful person, tireless in her pursuits, and generous with her time. She is deeply missed.

I studied with Melissa under Jock Reeder at Brown University. She was such a beautiful, unique person. First person, I believe, to ever teach a class about LDS at Harvard Divinity School. No words can express such loss.

I am so sorry to hear about Melissa's death. She was a Fellow with me at Princeton's Center for the Study of Religion, and then worked as my TA here at Lutheran for a semester. She was simply a wonderful human being, and the light in the cosmos is dimmer for her absence.

Dear Scot and Maurine,

How does one express the shock and grief felt when one such as Melissa passes away? We are still so saddened by the loss of your beautiful daughter.

What wonderful memories we have of the many times Melissa was in our home as she and Tiffiny shared high school experiences. It was a joy to be around her.

Without the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, this loss would be unbearable. With the gospel, it is still so incredibly painful, but at the same time the promise of the resurrection and reunion you will have with Melissa brings joy and solace. And then to think of all the reunions she is having with those who have gone on before...!

We send our condolences, prayers, and love to all of you.

Lorraine and Mike Pinnell

Steven J Pitts, husband of Geneen Richardson Pitts (deceased) and his family send their love to your family. We know how painful loss is, even though we know it is temporary. Our mother, Geneen, really admired Maurine and faithfully followed your magazine. We so appreciated how you both came to Geneen's funeral and how thoughtful Scott was to take pictures there. We love you and your family. May God bless and comfort you during this hard time.

We cherish our memories of Melissa and her remarkable talents and abilities. She experienced an extraordinary life in a relatively compact span of years. We express our condolences and best wishes to the family as you mourn her passing. May the Lord bless you and keep you in this hour of sadness. Laura & Royal Hansen

Scot and Maurine,

We're so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you and your family--may God's peace comfort you all.

Love,

Todd and Carrie Brotherson

I knew Melissa when I lived in Boston. She was so beautiful, brilliant, kind, and sweet. The world was a better place with her in it; may she rest in peace.

I had the honor of overlapping with Melissa in New Haven and again in Boston. I loved her Sunday school lessons, her brilliance, her kindess. She was such a beautiful person, inside and out, a force of nature as someone else wrote. I am so saddened by her loss and pray for peace to her family.

Maurine and Scot - We are sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
David & Carol Best

Melissa was intelligent, thoughtful, and funny. Several times she offered me excellent advice about something I was trying to think through. I will miss her, and my heart feels for her family who will be bereft.

We are so sorry at your loss. We knew Melissa at Yale and so admired her. This breaks our hearts. What a beautiful legacy she left. Sincerely, Travis & Lisa Seegmiller

I am absolutely speechless! As I read Melissa's obituary, I found her accomplishments, her intellect, her scholarly pursuits, and her loving spirit to be profoundly inspiring. Her passion for serving low income victims of domestic violence and addressing the prevalence of domestic violence in Utah were especially resonant for me as was her love of teaching.

Melissa's request to forego a funeral and to be honored instead by a scholarship fund through UVU's Women's Success Center is truly the act of an incredibly generous, wise woman.

On behalf of everyone at the Women's Success Center, please know of our profound sadness at losing this lovely soul from this earthly realm. Our gratitude is immeasurable as this gift will continue to educate women and transform lives in Melissa's memory.

Maureen, it sounds like your daughter was incredibly talented like her mother and stepfather. We send you heartfelt condolences to you both. It is so hard to loose a loved one, especially one of your children.

Dear Scott and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Hope you have the comforting spirit to be with you. Love, Lynette Jensen Moore

Remembering apple-picking with Melissa in Bishop's Orchards and a snowy Christmas together in New Hampshire, as well as many passionate grad school conversations about teaching, religion, and books. I was so very sad to hear this news and will be keeping Melissa and her family in my prayers.

I am so very sorry for you...I pray for your family...
Many blessings!
Margarita Kras-Germany

Maurine, I am very sorry for your loss. May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

The path of Melissa's life crossed mine in elementary school and then again in graduate school. I cherish the sweet memories I have of her and of her many gifts. May God's peace be with her family and with all who mourn her passing.

I cannot imagine your heartache at the loss of this wonderful daughter. She was a blessing good to many. Love and prayers for you and your family.

May Heavenly Father comfort and give you peace.

I never knew Melissa but I wish I had. She sounds like an amazing woman. I pray for her mother and father, family and friends. I know they will all be together again and what a wonderful comfort it is.

Melissa was a force of nature. I knew her during her time in Boston. She was a passionate feminist and scholar and an amazing musician. Her passing is a loss to all whose lives she touched.

In comparison to others who knew her, my time with Melissa as a friend was very short -- only two years. In that time, I came to know her as a passionate, brilliant woman who strove to take down institutional barriers that prevented women from being their most exceptional selves. Melissa embraced the talents that her Maker afforded her and lived a lifetime and a half in her short time on this earth. Her light and unforgettable laugh will be greatly missed. With heartfelt condolences to her loved ones.

May God bless your family with many happy memories of your sweet daughter. I love you guys.
Elaine Weinkauf

Melissa was an extraordinary scholar, writer and documentarian. She generously shared her research and insights with me and other journalists. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Condolences to her family.

Condolences to all who loved this amazing and accomplished woman. We're so sorry for your loss.

What an amazing woman! She accomplished so much in her life! We are thinking and praying for all of her family and friends who will miss her so dearly!

I will miss your laugh and smile at the family gatherings. You were loved by all your cousins.
I hope you are enjoying the reunion with Nana and Papa and my dad...

You will be missed by all of your family, dear Melissa. We hope you are having the best celebrations with Nana and Grandpa and our other loved ones who preceded you. Until we meet again.