Melanie A. Wright

Melanie A. Wright, a lifelong resident of Rensselaer and a woman of vibrant spirit and boundless kindness, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2026, at the age of 68.

Born on October 15, 1957, to Forrest "Fuzz" and Linda (Green) Campbell, Melanie grew up with a deep love for the Rensselaer community. A proud 1975 graduate of Rensselaer High School, she followed her creative passions to the Largo Beauty Academy in Florida, graduating in 1978. For decades, Melanie served as a self-employed cosmetologist, turning her profession into a ministry of friendship. To Melanie, her clients weren't just appointments; they were dear friends whose lives she touched with every conversation and care. Melanie was a woman of many interests and a "collector" of both beautiful things and meaningful moments. Whether she was lost in the pages of a great book, scouring local shops for hidden treasures while antiquing, or feeling the wind while horseback riding, she embraced life with an adventurous spirit. She was a familiar face at the American Legion Post #29, VFW Post #1279, and Moose Lodge #2272, and was formerly affiliated with the Gifford Church of God.

Above all, Melanie's legacy is her family. She was the heart of her home, finding her greatest happiness in the laughter of her grandchildren and the warmth of her large, extended family. Melanie is survived by her devoted life partner, Klayton Kohley; her daughter, Rhiannon Wright; and seven grandchildren who were her pride and joy: Makennah, Makayh, Makoi, Makari, Makaya, Lera, and Khalia.

She also leaves behind her siblings, Susan (Jim) Phillips and Mark (Stacey) Campbell; sisters-in-law, Rhonda (Tom) VanVleet and Lisa (Dr. Robert) Darnaby;

nieces and nephews, Caylyn (Reilly) Murphy, Halston Campbell, McClain Campbell, Cameron Phillips, Alexandra Phillips, Garrett Welker, Logan (Danielle) Welker, Caron Risner, and Cole Risner; great-nieces and great-nephews, Griffin, Lynley, Avery, Weston, and Sawyer; her aunts and uncles, Emily Green, Gary (Beverly) Green, and Gerald (Doris) Campbell;and a wide circle of cousins who will forever treasure her memory. She was preceded in death by her parents, Fuzz and Linda, and Harold (Janet) Kohley.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Melanie's life during a Time of Remembrance on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer. Following the visitation, inurnment will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to a charity of the donor's choice, continuing Melanie's lifelong tradition of giving back.