Melissa Ann Stern

Melissa Ann Stern, 46, died March 2, 2009 at her Long beach residence. The daughter of John and Linda Butts, she was born September 4, 1962 in Frankfurt Germany where her father was serving in the U.S. armed forces at the time. Melissa grew up in Santa Barbara, California. She was a very bright and energetic young girl. She loved drama and track and spent many happy times in the local children's community theater, at the beach with her family, and in nearby Anaheim with her grandparents at Disneyland and Laguna Beach. At 15 she passed the high school proficiency test and moved to Los Angeles to live with her father. There she attended Los Angeles City College. At 19 she moved to New York City, drawn by the excitement and allure of "the big apple" and she enjoyed all that it had to offer. She attended Baruch College and participated in college theater productions there. At 21 she took a position at Helmsley Spear, a commercial real estate firm, where she first met her future husband Barry Stern. Her beloved daughter Dana was born January 15, 1992, when Melissa was 29 years old. In 1997 Melissa moved out to the Peninsula for a fresh start. She reconnected with old friends, found employment at the Port of Ilwaco, fell in love and established roots. An avid reader she served on the Ilwaco Library Board. After moving to the Peninsula she rekindled her love of acting and drama and became active in local community theater productions. No matter where she lived, Melissa had a soft spot for animals, always providing a home to a cat or two. She fed stray cats and either kept them or found them homes. She doted on her two "wiener dogs" Oscar and Maya. She touched many lives with her outgoing style, strong determination, sense of humor and caring for others, and she will be greatly missed by those who loved her. Melissa is survived by her mother Linda Agren of Santa Maria, CA; father John Butts of Atascadero, CA; sister Elizabeth Lewis of Orinda, CA; daughter Dana Stern of Riverdale, NY; companion Matt Schommer and his son Chris of Long Beach; and former husband Barry Stern of Riverdale, New York. A celebration of her life followed by a reception will be held Saturday, March 14, 2009, 1:00 PM at Penttila's Chapel by The Sea, Long Beach. The guestbook is available at www.penttilaschapel.com.