Obituary of Melody Ann Pullen

On Sunday July 14, 2019, Melody Ann Pullen, age 71, received an invitation to meet the Lion of Judah in person, leaving us in a hurry.

Born in Snohomish, Washington to H. Carroll and Betty Lee Littleton, she is now looking down from heaven with her Dad, keeping a loving eye on those still on earth: her mother, twin sisters, baby brother, loving husband, beloved children, family and friends to whom she faithfully sent cards, saying, “Be Encouraged, Dearhearts!”

She lived life focused on giving unconditional love to everyone she knew. Her creative mind bubbled daily, seeking meaningful outlets in oil painting in the 80s and 90s (inspired by Bob Ross), ceramics, and crochet.

She loved nature, finding unique, artistic patterns in tree bark, autumn leaves, river stones, and sand dollars. She built special moments for her children out of everyday summer hikes through the woods in upstate New York, fall pumpkin patch and apple orchard visits in New England, geode "dinosaur egg" hunting in the red dirt and mesquite of Arizona, and beachcombing just about everywhere. She loved the extremes of nature, too.

She adored a great rainstorm with thunder and lightning, the crunching snow after a blizzard, the cracked desert after a monsoon dried out. She sought out and tracked the daily activities of the backyard quail family, chickadee, and hummingbird sightings.

She loved traditions old and new, giving her kids a need for pairing not only food, drink, and dessert together, but also movies. Mom was a movie buff with a love for all things mystery and historical, preferably the two combined. Miss Marple and Poirot, Jessica Fletcher and Magnum PI, were staples. Family movies like Pollyanna, Swiss Family Robinson, The Man from Snowy River, The Ugly Dachshund, Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol (the one with the lady hiding in a closet to escape Ebenezer gone mad), and 101 Dalmatians (for her love of her childhood Dalmatian, Pepper, and of the color red). All the memories of smiles and laughter, eating smorgasbord-style while watching movies will be there for us in the holidays to come.

Her departure has left a hole in our lives. Who is going to care about all the small things we complained about as much as she did with such cheerful and staunch support and unflinching belief that things will only get better. We know her joyful spirit is forever in us, inspiring us to take courage and to be encouraged. I think the only regret she has would be not being there in person to hug and tell us she loved us… although she and her Dad might also be bummed they couldn't bring their favorite hats!

Family gathering has taken place.