We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Melanie Michele Hutson, 59, of Lansing, Illinois. Melanie passed away November 29, 2022, where she was surrounded by her loving family.

She was born November 15, 1963, in Fort Benning, Georgia the daughter of Douglas and Paulette L. (Roberts) Hutson and graduated from Marcellus High School with the class of 1981.

Melanie attended Southwestern Michigan College and later on attended Michigan State University where she received her insurance licenses for property & casualty, Life & Health to name a few. In the meantime, Melanie worked at Swiss Valley Ski & Snowboard in both the cafe and the chalet. Once Swiss Valley closed for the season she was a cook at Nip n Tuck. After Nip n Tuck permanently closed, she went to work at Melvilles, where she was a bartender, waitress, and cook. She also worked at Johnny's Pizzeria making pizzas and subs. Once she obtained her insurance licenses, she then went on to work for AllState insurance where she worked for a few years before she went to work for State Farm and worked over 15 years while working at Melvilles as her second job for a few years. Melanie enjoyed softball and played in her teen years to which she volunteered to coach her daughters softball team. After many years had gone by, she decided to start her own cleaning business where she not only did residential, but she also did some commercial. She didn't just clean for her clients. She went above and beyond by helping them with landscaping projects, painting, power washing/painting decks, planting flowers, putting up Christmas trees. If her clients needed someone to talk to, Melanie always made time for them. Unfortunately, when COVID struck it forced Melanie to close up her business. From there, she went to work at J & J Glass Co. INC where she was the office secretary as well as a shop helper for going out and helping on jobs. Her favorite thing about working for J & J glass was going on jobs downtown to work on the tour boats as well as going to the Steel Mills.

In the spring 29 years ago, Melanie met a gentleman by the name of James Moll that is now her fiancé. It was an instant connection, the love they had for one another was a love that could never be broken and never was. They always supported each other through it all no matter what. They always enjoyed the little things together from shopping to staying home and cooking dinner, taking road trips to Lake Michigan and walking the beach, sharing endless laughs, reminiscing of old memories, taking vacations, and simply enjoying each others company on a Sunday morning watching the old cartoons drinking coffee.

Melanie was very proud of her kids for all they have accomplished and continued to accomplish is their everyday lives. Her grandkids were the highlight of her life and loved them dearly. Melanie was an outdoorsy and crafty person. When the weather was nice she was out doing yardwork, gardening, or turning an outdoor crafty idea into reality. When the weather forced her inside, you could find her working on crafty ideas using wood pallets, watching the Notre Dame game, helping rehab an apartment, or playing with her dog Toby. She held a special place in her heart for rescue animals, as she rescued Gizmo and Toby and loved them dearly. Melanie also loved to travel, she went to Greece, Alaska, California, and toured most of Michigan's upper peninsula.

Melanie had a great sense of humor and a nurturing heart. Whether she was doing what she loved and took pride in, making someone laugh, or feeding someone who came in she was always putting others needs before her own. Melanie could walk into a store and she was almost always was likely to run into someone she knew. Anyone who knew Melanie, they instantly adored her as she was known for making peoples days brighter if they were having a bad day.

Remaining to cherish her memory her fiancé; James Moll of Lansing, IL and her two children; son Nicholas (Shantel) Palmer of Three Rivers, Mi and daughter Shayne Bowers of Marcellus, Mi, her brother Stephen (Sheri) Hutson of Portage, Mi; grandchildren Gavin Palmer, Lia Palmer, and Jackson Palmer of Three Rivers, Mi.. Her nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She is proceeded in death by her parents Paulette & Douglas Hutson, grandparents Paul & Dorothy Roberts, and her uncle Gary Roberts.

Services for Melanie will take place at a later date.