Melissa Nan Altizer

Melissa Nan Richardson Altizer was called to be with her Lord on Friday, February 25, 2022. Melissa was born on March 31, 1964, in Selma, Alabama, to Arthur R. (Reggie) and Emily Nan Richardson. She grew up in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Memorial High School.

As a college freshman at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas, she met her husband, Ragan Altizer. The couple married at Highland Park Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. The couple moved to Houston where their marriage was blessed with two daughters, Kendall Nan and Anna Kirby.

Melissa spent much of her life in Houston, and in 1999, relocated with her family to Dripping Springs, Texas, where they were active members of the Dripping Springs United Methodist Church and where Melissa worked in the church day care center, cherishing her time with wonderful pre-school children and their parents. Melissa and Ragan returned to Houston in 2015 and have enjoyed the last several years there.

Melissa loved her daughters unconditionally. She loved animals, including her 19-year-old cat Noname (no-NAA-me), enjoyed seeing movies and cherished time spent with family and friends. She was an avid collector of heart shapes and had an uncanny ability to discover them in unusual places.

Melissa was greeted in Heaven by her father, Reggie Richardson, all of her grandparents, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and her pets, Hans, Harley, Buddy, and Tiger Lily, among others. She is survived by her husband of 37 years, Ragan, her mother Emily Nan of College Station, Texas, her sister Meredith Hayes (husband Chris) of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, daughter Kendall Altizer Fitko (husband Adam) of Houston, and daughter Kirby Altizer (fiancé Jason Schultze) of Boerne, Texas, her parents in-law Oliver B. and Anna Joyce Altizer of Austin, Texas, and her sisters-in-law Molly Altizer of Austin and Natalie Altizer (husband Brad) of San Antonio, Texas, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

The family invites you to join them in celebrating Melissa’s life on Friday, March 4, 2022 at 2:00 PM at Dripping Springs United Methodist Church, 28900 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs, Texas 78620.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the memory of Melissa Altizer to Pathways Pre-school or The Children's Ministry at Dripping Springs United Methodist Church or www.dsumc.org/give-online/

Please direct any flower orders to Dripping Springs United Methodist Church, 28900 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs, TX 78620.