Melissa Smith

JEROME • Melissa Anne Smith died in her sleep at home Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014, at the age of 47. The cause of death was respiratory failure, complications of her fibromyalgia, CFS and an asthma-like respiratory condition.

She was a wife, a mother, a sister, a writer and artist, a beadster and seamstress, a friend and, most of all, a devoted, born-again Christian, who awoke to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior, finally free of pain.

Melissa Perusich was born April 3, 1967, in San Bernadino, Calif., to Gail Turner and George Perusich. She lived much of her childhood in Auburn, Calif., but graduated from Laton, Calif., High School and Reedley College before moving on to Cal State-Fresno. She married Christopher Greer in 1993 and had three exceptional sons who were the joys of her life: Elijah (age 19), Isaiah (17) and Uriel (12). The couple spent the majority of their marriage in Laramie, Wyo., before their divorce in 2009.

On Dec. 20, 2010, she married her high school sweetheart, Gordon Smith, and moved to Jerome, Idaho, where she lived the last four years of her life. She was a beloved stepmother, “Ama,” to his five children: Dorothy and Charlotte (age 9), Rutherford (10), Sutherland (13) and Hamilton (17). She is survived by her three sons; her five stepchildren; her husband and ex-husband; her sister, Katherine Perusich; her brother, Kevin Turner; and her father.

An informal memorial service will be held at Believer’s Church in downtown Jerome on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, starting at 6 p.m. Friends are welcome to come share their memories of Melissa; the family prefers no flowers or gifts be brought. No burial service is currently planned.

We who love Melissa reassure ourselves through one of her life verses, Romans 8:28 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”

Good night, Melissa; you are our sunshine.