Melissa Lynn Harjo

Former Seminole resident Melissa Lynn Harjo, 53, of Lawrence, Kansas, passed away Saturday, October 5, 2025, in Lawrence.

Melissa, the daughter of Leonard and Samaria (Johnson) Harjo, was born April 1, 1972, in Oklahoma City. She was a proud tribal member of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, Tallahassee Band and Bird Clan. Melissa attended Seminole Schools and graduated with the Seminole High School class of 1991. After high school, she attended Haskell Indian Nations University and received her associates degree with the class of 1996. Melissa started federal government work in 2006 as a college residential assistant with Haskell Indian Nation University, a position she held until 2009. She then started working for the American Indian Records Repository in Lenexa, Kansas, in December of 2009, and she worked there until her death.

She was preceded in death by her father, Leonard Harjo; her grandparents, Raymond and Mary Johnson; an uncle, Ronald (Sonny) Johnson; and a cousin, who was more like a brother, Greg Robinson.

Melissa is survived by her mother, Samaria Harjo, of the home; two sisters, Melinda Harjo, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, and Mary Harjo, of Lawrence, Kansas; a cousin, who was more like a sister, Gwen Coon; nephews, Raymond Harjo, of Tecumseh, Oklahoma, and Samuel Harjo, of Lawrence Kansas; and her beloved fur babies, Peabody and Toberz; along with many other family members and friends.

Memorial services are scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. at the Lawrence Indian United Methodist Church, at 950 E 21st St, Lawrence, KS 66046, with Richard Cuny officiating; and Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. at Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma, with Eric Thlocco officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Harjo Family Cemetery, in Seminole, Oklahoma. Cremation services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole.