Raymond and Karen's Daughter Death‏

Raymond is Pearle and Fred Smith's youngest child and the brother of Gordon Smith.

Gordon  Smith wrote: Dear Family,
We are sending you the obituary for Raymond & Karen's daughter, Melissa, and Raymond's email address, if you desire to send a note of condolence to them.  The obit. was in the Daily News of Blackfoot, Idaho,
today.  Her service is Monday.  We are going up to support them.
Love ya, dad and mom.

RymndKar@aol.com

BLACKFOOT — Melissa Dene Gallegos, 37, the daughter of Raymond and Karen Smith of Blackfoot, died peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2009 in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Melissa Dene
Gallegos, 37
BLACKFOOT — Melissa Dene Gallegos, 37, the daughter of Raymond and Karen Smith of Blackfoot, died peacefully in her sleep on March 18, 2009 in Blackfoot, Idaho.
Melissa was born May 24, 1971 in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Darla Dene Jensen and Gordon Walter Snow.  She moved to Blackfoot when she was 9 months old to live with her aunt and uncle, Raymond and Karen Smith, who raised her to adulthood.  Melissa attended school in Blackfoot, graduating from Blackfoot High School in 1989.  She made friends easily and was a loyal and loving friend to many.
Melissa married Michael Gallegos in 1987.  They were later divorced but have remained good friends.
Melissa worked for many years as a waitress at Martha’s Café in Blackfoot and later at Oakridge Convenience Store.  She lived for a short period of time in Pocatello and Montpelier but later returned to live in Blackfoot.  Melissa was a good worker and always gave full measure to her employers.
Melissa’s crowning glory was her three sons, Tason, Adrian and Logan.  She loved them fiercely and they were her life.
Melissa is survived by her parents, Raymond & Karen Smith of Blackfoot; her father, Gordon Snow of LaVerkin, UT; her children, Tason Gallegos, 21, of Salt Lake City, UT; Adrian Jimenez, 18,  and Logan Smith, 12, both of Blackfoot; her brothers, Wade Smith of Lake City, FL, Bryant Smith of Gypsum, CO; sisters Susan (Layne) Anderson and Stacy Smith, both of Blackfoot; brothers, Gordon Snow and Frank Woolsey, both of Salt Lake City, UT; brother, Jerry Diat and sister, Holly Diat; brothers Darren, Eric and Jon Hardman, all of Springville, UT and sister, Leslie Nielsen of Spanish Fork, UT.  Also surviving are many aunts, uncles, cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.  She will be dearly missed by her entire family.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Darla, an infant daughter, Angela Karen Jimenez, and her grandparents.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23, 2009, at Hawker Funeral Home. The family will meet with friends and relatives from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 22, 2009 at the funeral home and again for one hour prior to service. Interment will be in the Grove City Cemetery.


Myrna wrote: Thanks for keeping me in the loop. She was so young. Did she have cancer? That is the worry we all have that our youngsters will die before we do. She certainly was a beautiful woman. What will become of the youngest--the 12 year old? Will Raymond and Karen give him a home? Love, M


Hi Myrna, Melissa had health problems for a long time.  All that is known is that she died in her sleep.

The services were very nice, with a great attendance and support.  It was good to see Karen & Raymond's family, they are so scattered we never see them, just hear about their activities.  Bryan conducted the services, he is or has been a Branch President, and he did very well.  The services were
family oriented and family participants.  Monte and Wynette drove up there from Ioka (Roosevelt).  It was so good to see them too.  Wynette said she saw you at Suzanne Farrer's mothers services in Nephi.  That was a pleasant surprise for her.  As for the boys, the oldest is living in Salt Lake and attending the Community college there, Adrien will graduate this year from high school and will have to decide what he
desires to do, and Logan, the 12 year old has been invited to live with his father and his family, so that is where it stands.  Raymond and Karen's door is open to give them love and support, a place to live, or whatever their needs are.  They have given the boys great support in a myriad of ways up to this point.  They have been given a good foundation, now their agency will have to step in.  Worries and concerns never end.    

Hope all is well at your home, we enjoy your emails.  Gordon tells me about them, and sometimes I get to read them.  My computer skills are terrible, as you can see.  Love, Gordon & Roberta