Melissa Jane Ward

Melissa Jane Ward died of a heart attack on December 9, 2024 in Salem, Oregon. She was the daughter of Denise and Ralph Spooner. She is survived by her daughter, Maddy Ward, her sister, Robin Spooner, and her two brothers, Robert Spooner and Thomas Spooner. Melissa has a large extended family with the family names of Spooner, Ward, Paluska, Leonard, Cruise, Ross, Prevendar, Kaufman, and Potter.

Melissa was a remarkable woman whose light shone brightly. She was a devoted mother. Her love for her beautiful daughter Maddy is her legacy. Melissa was also an attorney with a brilliant analytical legal mind. Melissa and her father worked together on many important cases that were decided by the Oregon Court of Appeals, Oregon Supreme Court, and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in published opinions. Her work writing appellate briefs has helped shape insurance law in Oregon.

You could see her kind, gentle and compassionate spirit on display every time she smiled. Her spirit was as vibrant as the destinations she loved to explore with Maddy. From the bustling streets of New York and Chicago to the serene shores of Lake Geneva and Catalina Island, she laughed, played and shopped with her daughter. They also travelled internationally to Italy, Austria and Germany, creating memories that will last forever.

Melissa was more than just a traveler, she was a connoisseur of life’s simple pleasures. Her culinary talents were legendary and her recent victory in the family Thanksgiving cooking contest is a testament to her skill and creativity. She had style and grace, comfortable in a serious legal setting or at a casual party.

Her faith was unwavering. Faced with challenges at times in her life, she always turned to God. As a lifelong Catholic, Melissa’s faith provided the spiritual solace and strength she needed in both difficult and joyous times. She truly loved and was loved in her lifetime.

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