Melody (Mel) Celeste James Albus, age 52, met God on July 15, 2019. Mel was born on April 29, 1967, in Brawley, California. She spent most of her childhood and adult life in and around Austin, Texas graduating from Lanier High School. She recently became a resident of Keller, Texas, where she moved with her husband and best friend, Darren Dwight Albus. However, her parents still reside on Lake Austin and Mel remained an Austin girl at heart.
From 1989 until 2002, Mel worked for Dell Corporation as a Senior Supply Chief Manager and Acting Director. From 2004 until 2018, she worked for a Department of Defense Contractor at BAE Systems. In record time, she advanced from Senior Planner to Senior Lead to Assistant Manager to Manager for Borderless Operations for a five-state area.
When she was not working, Mel loved to enjoy life and her vast network of family and friends. Her biggest passion was entertaining, especially for ALL holidays. In truth, Mel’s mantra was that any gathering of more than two people amounted to a celebration that required a buffet. With prior experience as a florist, she found pure joy in extravagant decorations. She wouldn’t pass up a good dance, the opportunity to act as hostess, or any trip to Costco. Her favorite place was Maui, with either lakeside at her parents’ house or her own pool as close runner ups.
She was relentlessly devoted to her family, friends, and beloved dogs. Loyal, unselfish, hardworking, hard playing, ever present when needed, ever concerned from afar—she will be missed and is irreplaceable.
Mel was preceded in death by her son, Trenton. Mel is survived by her husband, Darren Albus, of Keller, Texas. Mel is also survived by their three children—daughter Taylor Wilcher and husband, Derrick, of Tulsa, Oklahoma; daughter Demi Albus and partner Anthony Hebert, along with Mel and Darren’s grandchildren Gabriel Tatum (Tate) and VonDie Lucienne (Lucy) of Georgetown, Texas; and only son Dalton Albus, presently of Germany. Mel is also survived by her parents James (Sonny) and Marilyn Frazier of Lake Austin. Mel is lovingly remembered by numerous members of an extended family and forever friends.
Visitation will be from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 19, 2019 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville (Austin), Texas. Services will commence immediately following at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Austin Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or any charity of choice.
