July 31, 1951 – May 13, 2023
Melody Nye, age 71, from Chowchilla, CA passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, after battling cancer. She was born in Artesia, California, the third of four children born to Gerald and Marjorie Moreland.
Melody fell in love with and married Lee Nye in 1972, the beginning of an adventure that took her to Ohio and then back to multiple cities in California again. She loved the excitement of new people, new cities, new adventures, and supporting Lee in a career he loved. Melody loved being a mother and taught her girls to love others, to love music, and showed by example how to handle the tough times in life by holding onto and trusting in Jesus. She endured great loss with the death of her infant son, and the death of her husband, Lee.
When Melody became a widow at 49 years old, she was overcome by grief, but found comfort, friendship, and love again, and married Michael Fancher in 2004.
Melody’s employment centered around helping others – she enjoyed secretarial work in many different settings (including church, legal and education) and prided herself on being an excellent customer service representative. When Melody retired, she still spent her life helping others, often acting as caretaker for family members who could no longer care for themselves.
Melody had a wide range of ‘loves’ – she loved Dr. Pepper, sitting in the sunshine, doing puzzles, going on cruises, writing poems, watercolors, and making sure that everyone around her was happy.
From childhood, Melody lived up to her name, with a great love for music – she loved to sing, dance, and listen to music. If you spent more than a few minutes with Melody, you would likely experience her randomly ‘bursting into song’ because of something that was said. She sang in the church choir, led worship music at church, sang karaoke in her living room, sang lullabies to babies, and loved a good cruise ship piano bar.
Faith and family have always been central to Melody’s life. She knew Jesus as her Savior, and loved her family deeply. For her, there was nothing better than to sit on a porch or balcony with family or friends just talking and being together.
Melody will be deeply missed, but her legacy lives on through each life she touched.
Melody is survived by her husband, Michael Fancher; daughter Nicole Liberta and her husband Bert; daughter Jody Jo Mize; daughter Jessica Paskin and her husband Ryan; Grandchildren Taylor Harper, Dominic Liberta, Morgan Norman, Lauren Mize, Vincent Liberta, Tyler Paskin, Preston Paskin and Maddox Paskin; Great grandchildren Rowan, Merritt and Kinsley; Siblings Larry Moreland, Janet Proby and Lani Moreland and multiple nieces and nephews.
Melody was preceded in death by her husband Lee Nye, son Lee Nye Jr., and her parents Gerald and Marjorie Moreland.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Northpark Community Church, 2297 E Shepherd Ave., Fresno, CA 93720.
Remembrances may be sent to Fresno County Pink Heals, 9303 E. Bullard Ave., Clovis, CA 93619.
