Melissa Anne Miller

June 6, 1955 – December 10, 2022

Melissa Anne Miller of Ketchikan, Alaska, passed away Dec. 10, 2022, due to complications of a brain tumor. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and love.

Melissa was born at Ketchikan General Hospital on June 6, 1955, after a floatplane ride from Thorne Bay, Alaska, where she would spend her younger years with her mom Jane, her dad Verne and her brother and sister Mel and Michele.

Melissa said it was a wonderful place to grow up. The family stayed in Thorne Bay until 1969, when the family moved to Edmonds, Washington, where she attended Woodway High School and graduated in 1973.

After high school, Melissa moved back to Alaska and married Steve Dillard in 1977. They then had two children, Shawn David Dillard and Ashlee Christine Dillard.

Melissa was a beloved daughter, mother, sister, neighbor and friend to all. She was bright, funny and affectionate. She loved her community, the arts and reading. She first started graphic design and assembling the newspaper for printing at the age of 20 at the Ketchikan Daily News, and worked there over 35 years. It was a job she loved very much.

Her life in Ketchikan and at the newspaper was her corner of the world and that’s how she liked it.

Melissa was loved as much as she is missed and will be remembered fondly and often. She was preceded in death by her parents Jane and Verne Miller, her aunt and uncle Betty and Ralph Myhres and her sisters Vivian Belcher (Kevin) and Sandy Hereld (Brie Gyncild).

She is survived by her daughter Ashlee Dillard, son Shawn Dillard (Ashley), stepmother Dona Miller, sister Michele Miller, brother, Mel Miller (Char), brother Pete Hereld (Liz) and sister Melinda Page (Chuck). She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and two grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution in Melissa‘s name to the Pioneer Home of Ketchikan, Alaska.