Melissa Lyn Herbert, 34, passed from this life into the arms of Jesus on May 26, 2015 after battling a lengthy illness. She was born on December 21, 1980 to James and Linda Herbert in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. She always loved the fact that she was born on the winter solstice and said God wanted her to be a bright light shining in the darkest time of the year.

Melissa was homeschooled and received her high school diploma with honors from an accredited program, graduating with other students in the Northwest in Seattle in 1998. She continued her studies at North Idaho College with her course emphasis in Public Relations, Communications and Journalism. She also completed courses to be a certified bridal consultant. At age seventeen she was determined to work at the Coeur d'Alene Resort and from her first position there as Dockside Hostess, she rose through the positions of Dockside Assistant Manager, Concierge, to Front Desk Manager. During her employment there, she was also Chairman of United Way and completed various management courses. In April of 2004, she began her career in Seattle as Member Relations Coordinator at the Columbia Tower Club. This was a senior staff role and she was responsible for managing and planning club events, and member retention. In 2011 she added President of the Downtown Seattle Rotary Club to her resume. In 2012, she joined the traveling merchandising team for Home Depot. Working at Silverwood was her fun job and where she met her husband, Rudy.

Melissa was well known for her gracious spirit and attentive listening to whomever she was working with. She could converse about any subject with any age group. She drew upon a memorable collection of her life experiences. As a child she attended Bible Study Fellowship, Awanas and while still in high school ran an in-home daycare. She excelled in piano and was always proud of her performance of Fur Elise as a recital finale. Being very athletic she enjoyed snowboarding, kickboxing, fly-fishing, karate, golf, biking, and running. She ran dozens of marathons and half-marathons, including those in honor of her mother surviving breast cancer. Being proud of her Irish descent, she took up Irish Dancing. She was a huge Green Bay Packers fan because she was proud of her uncle Charlie who played for them. But when they played the Seahawks, she had to change jerseys at half-time. Melissa loved to travel and had already been to Europe twice, most of the US, Belize, Mexico, Jamaica, Canada and China. Her favorite was always Paris, as you could tell from her home decor. Her next goal was to visit Ireland.

Melissa had a heart for the homeless and always had bags of supplies and snacks in her car to hand out to the "people on the corner" as she affectionately referred to them. She also gave her time and energy to nonprofits and said that would be her life work when she retired.

Melissa is survived by her husband Rudy Bryan, parents Jim and Linda Herbert, brother Gregory Herbert, a niece, nephew, grandmother and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Bill and Betty Brock and Jim and Marian Herbert.

A memorial service will be held on June 20, at 6 p.m. at Anthem Friends Church in Hayden, Idaho in honor of her half birthday, which she loved to celebrate on the summer solstice. Donations may be made to any charity supporting the homeless.

Please sign Melissa's guest registry and view her online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.