Melissa was born on June 28, 1955 in Kansas City, Missouri to parents Robert and Helen (Scott) Mathews. She sewed her own smart blue dress suit for prom when all the other girls wore pastel gowns. She graduated in 1973 from Shawnee Mission South High School. Melissa attended classes at Stephens in Colombia, Missouri and the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Melissa met her husband, David Greene, by happy accident. David pulled a U-turn on his motorcycle and put his knee into the rear quarter panel of her 1972 Ford Thunderbird. Melissa and David were married in 1979 in Kansas City, Missouri. Melissa went against tradition and did not change her last name.
Melissa and David have two children and a close extended family. Melissa always had a space in her heart and her home for friends and animals in need. She would know what to say and how to make you feel special and loved. She was famous for her ‘throwed rolls’ and jalapeno-infused jams. She loved the arts and was a skilled knitter. She and her mother made hats and scarves for the Kansas City homeless and her signature striped beanies can be seen on the heads of her children and their friends all over the world. She was an active member in the Sketch Box Committee of the Kansas City Art Institute. She also did extensive research and planning for trips with her family all over Kansas, the United States and abroad. She recently took up genealogy and traced one side back to the eleventh century. Recent trips were in pursuit of her study of genealogy.
After her diagnosis in mid-January, Melissa surpassed all expectations to celebrate her 39th wedding anniversary to her husband on March 10, 2018. Melissa passed away peacefully on March 13, 2018. She left knowing that her family is whole, harmonious and that she is loved.
She is survived by her husband David Greene, daughter Alicia Greene (Joel Thompson), son Spencer Greene (Danielle DuMars), sister Marti Rolofson, nieces Libbie Fogel (Rick Klomhaus) and Mindy (Dan) Pignotti, cousins Scott (Kim) Brown and Austin Brown and three grandnieces Lily, Maddie and Cammie.
Melissa was proceeded in death by her parents Robert and Helen Mathews and brother-in-law Lyle Rolofson.
A memorial reception to honor Melissa Mathews will be held Sunday, March 25, 2018 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Vanderslice Hall at the Kansas City Art Institute, 4415 Warwick Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64111; (816) 472-4852.
Memorial donations may be made to:
The Kansas City Art Institute, 4415 Warwick Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64111; (816) 802-3500;
https://donate.kcai.edu/pages/ways-to-give-2
and/or
The Great Plains Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 5424 Antioch Drive, Merriam, Kansas 66202; (913) 831-7722; http://www.greatplainsspca.org/donate/
