Melanie O'Neill

Melanie Anne O'Neill (Guthrie)

Melanie was born in San Francisco, California on December 21, 1949 and passed away in Gasquet, California on May 12, 2013.

Melanie's parents were William Guthrie, a San Francisco Police Department Homicide Inspector and Maxine Busch Guthrie, a Registered Nurse and U.S. Army veteran who served on hospital ships during the Second World War.

Melanie attended Mercy High School from where she graduated in 1968.

These roots and experiences provided Melanie with the formative guidelines from which she grew into the inquisitive, independent, tough, stubborn, compassionate and caring individual that her many relatives, friends and acquaintances all admired and respected. She soon entered the working world and her various job experiences gave her the confidence to fulfill her desire to own and operate her own business, which she accomplished with the purchase of the Cotati Saloon in Sonoma County, which she owned for several successful years.

Melanie sold that business and relocated to Crescent City, California with her husband Barry in early 1990. After a short hiatus to explore and experience the redwood coast and the majestic forests, she returned to school to achieve her desire to become a nurse. Melanie worked for several local family practice doctors before finishing her career as a nurse at Pelican Bay State Prison.

Melanie leaves her husband Barry O'Neill of Gasquet, her son David Parsons and his wife Bonny of Palm Desert, California and her son William Parsons and his wife Ellen of Chesapeake, Virginia. Melanie is also survived by her sister Cathleen Guthrie of Rohnert Park, California, her sister Maureen and her husband Kevin Crerar of Woodland, California, and her brother William Guthrie and his wife Piper of Woodland, California. Melanie loved and was loved as "Auntie Mel" by nieces and nephews Nick and Chris Angulo, Colin and Sean Crerar, and Lauren and Brian Clementino. Melanie was especially thrilled to be the great aunt to little Maxine the beautiful daughter of her nephew Peter Crerar and his wife Jennifer.

At Melanie's request, there will be no formal memorial service. Family members are, however, planning a celebration of her life at a date yet to be determined. Those friends and acquaintances interested in attending are encouraged to contact the O'Neill family at P.O. Box 100, Gasquet, CA. 95543.

Please sign the family's online guestbook at wiersmortuary.com Arrangements are under the direction of Wier's Mortuary Chapel.