Melanie Jean Wimpee, 58, of Muscle Shoals passed away on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at her residence. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at Magnolia Church of Christ. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. with Joe VanDyke officiating. Burial will be in Jones Chapel Cemetery in Lawrence County.
Ms. Wimpee graduated from UNA in 1984 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. She worked at Riverbend Center for Mental Health as a Case Manager and retired with 25 years of service in 2011. She continued working at Riverbend part-time until 2013 when she was diagnosed with cancer. She fought a courageous battle for eight months. She lived a full life and enjoyed traveling, playing the violin, living on the lake and riding her wave runner. She loved dogs and leaves behind her beloved pet, Chloe. She obtained her green belt in karate and was a member of Magnolia Church. Although she had no children, she was Aunt Mel to 25 nieces and nephews, friend’s children and church children.
Ms. Wimpee is also survived by her sisters, Zannie (Randall), Sonja Adams, Judy (Ronald) and Bethany (Eddie); brothers, Mike (Ruth), Jimmy (Bonnie), Steve (Sherry) and Anthonoy (Pat); and special friend and caregiver, Diane Tomlinson.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Marshall Ray “Pat” Wimpee and her parents, Marion Russell and Mary Leona Jenkins Wimpee.
Pallbearers will be Gene Davis, Randall Springer, Ci Murphy, Jimmy Wimpee, Clint Green, Shane Davis, Nathan Green and Eddie Murphy.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Riverbend Center for Mental Health or the American Cancer Society.
