Melanie Madaline Morgan, born on May 28, 1944, in Macomb, Ill., was the second of four daughters born to Daniel M. Morgan and N. Madaline Welsh Morgan. Growing up, the family moved from Illinois to Nebraska to Grand Junction, Colo., back to Illinois, then Iowa and Idaho, finally settling in Grand Junction. Her only child, David D. Guthrie, was born on Dec. 28, 1969.
Melanie’s 31-year career at Farmers Insurance began in Grand Junction and she retired in 2012 in Pagosa Springs, Colo.
The next 11 years were spent enjoying her cats, reading, having lunch with friends, doing needlework, reading, visiting relatives and friends, attending concerts, and reading. Friends said she and her older sister, Diana, were “joined at the hips.” Then in 2022 a move to Phoenix enabled her to be close to David. She passed unexpectedly on July 28, 2023. She was interred by her parents in Illinois.
Melanie was preceded in death by her parents and younger sister Margo (husband Robert Rhine). Left behind are: son David and his husband, Rick Wriston; niece Alexis (husband Orlando Vivens); grandnieces Penelope and Athena; sister Diana (husband Patrick Baird); brother-in-law Robert Rhine; youngest sister Danielle (Danni) (husband Chris Hawley); nephews and more nieces; and numerous grandnephews and grandnieces.
The family is having a celebration of life on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at the Pagosa Springs Senior Center at 451 Hot Springs Blvd. from 2 to 5. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests memorial contributions be made in Melanie’s memory to the Humane Society of Pagosa Springs (P.O. Box 2230 or 464 Cloman Blvd.).
