Melody Ellen Peissner Gilbert, a resident of Willow Springs, quietly passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, March 28, 2011 while at her residence after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was born Oct. 2, 1950 in Centralia, Wash., to David and Shirley (Tessier) Peissner. She was 60 years old.
Melody was preceded in death by her parents; her two brothers Ronald Lininger and Richard Coleman; her son Jason Dotson, and her daughter Stacy McLean.
She is survived by her husband Kenneth R. Gilbert of Willow Springs; her children, Duane McLean of Virginia, Bryon Dotson of Tucson, Ariz., Amy Thorn of La Russell, Mo., Stephanie Holmes of Willow Springs, Robert Holmes of Willow Springs, Kathy Kelley of Boonville, Mo., Krystal Landon of Independence, Mo., and Kevin Gilbert of Ft. Scott, Kan.
She is further survived by her brothers and sisters, David Peissner of North Pole, Alaska, Gary Lininger and James Peissner of Olympia, Wash., Debbie Huston of Lacey, Wash., Norma Murray of Redmond, Wash., and special foster sister Pamela Wyman of Bothell, Wash.
Also surviving are her grandchildren, Sean McLean of Victorville, Calif., Sierra and Dalton Thorn of La Russell, Mo., Darius, Amanda, and Dante Gilbert of Ft. Scott, Kan., Kassie, Josh, and Ethan Gilbert of Boonville, Mo., Kourtney, Abby, and Noah Landon of Independence, Mo., Zoey Holmes of Willow Springs, Anthony Porter of Springfield, Mo., Kayla Hesselling and son Steven of Reeds Spring, Mo., Shawna Steibs and Nevaeh and Aiden of Pomona; Mo., Morchele Clark and Madison and Donovan Clark of Ava, Mo., and special friends Denny Harvill and Dottie Morris both of Forsyth, Mo., and Rosemary Swearengin and Kim Clark of Ava, Mo.
A potluck memorial service will be held at the family home on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 1 p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Willow Funeral Home in Willow Springs.
