Melissa Nicole Close

Ms. Melissa Nicole Colson Close, age 47 of Alexandria, Louisiana entered eternal rest on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at St. Francis Cabrini Hospital.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 21, 2023, from 9:00-10:30 am at Gallagher Funeral Home. A rosary will be held at 10:30 am and the service will be at 11:00 am Friday, July 21, 2023, at Gallagher Funeral Home.
Melissa is preceded in death by her father, David Colson; paternal grandparents, Cliff and Mary Colson; maternal grandparents, Roy Swinnen and Aline Leistman; and stepfather, Hillman Fredieu.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Olivia and Joshua Close; her partner of 9 years, Preston Taylor and his children, Corey (Lacey), Christian (Emma), and Erin Taylor and his grandchildren, Nora and Thomas Taylor and Nolan Turner; mother, Susan Fredieu; sister, Stephanie Colson; and a host of other family and friends.
Melissa was a very outgoing person with a huge heart that loved to have a good time doing anything she could. Some of those things included going to concerts and rodeos. She was a very "seize the moment" woman that never met a stranger. She was a 12-year breast cancer survivor and loved living life to the fullest. She loved arts and crafts, traveling, fishing, having her friends around and lately, cooking and baking. She was a loving mother, partner, daughter, sister and friend and will be truly missed by all that knew and loved her.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to either Susan G. Komen, St. Jude or The American Heart Association.