Melissa Wooden

Melissa was born December 17, 1978 in Boulder, Colorado to Wendy K. Wooden and Lloyd A. Quist. In 1980, the family moved to Little Falls, MN where Melissa attended North Star Academy through 3rd grade. She then attended S.G. Knight Elementary School in Randall, MN for 4th grade. And Washington Middle School in Brainerd, MN grades 5-7. She completed 9th Grade in Little Falls and finished school at Minnesota State Academy for the deaf graduating in 1997. Melissa moved to Washington D.C. where she attended Gallaudet University, graduating in 2002 with a B.A. degree in studio art, minoring in art history and graphic design. She returned to Little Falls and was a free lance designer. Melissa was offered an interim instructor job at CLC in Brainerd teaching American Sign Language (ASL) for one semester. She then taught ASL at Brainerd High School and attended St. Cloud State University. She graduated from St. Cloud State University in May, 2008 with a B.S. degree in art education which enabled her to continue to teach at Brainerd High School. She was a extremely talented, respected and dedicated teacher whose influence on her students will last their lifetime. Melissa was an activist for the deaf community and was a member of the National Association for the Deaf, (NAD). She had a passion for art, especially painting, dance and anything to do with visual arts. She enjoyed camping, camp fires, traveling, Coach purses, watching movies and wolves. Purple was her favorite color and she loved butterflies (because they are deaf). Melissa was in love and was going to be married next June to the love of her life, and best friend, Jim. Next to Jim, her two sisters were very important in her life, but for that matter, her whole family, friends and students. Melissa is survived by her fiancé, Jim Kleinschmidt of Little Falls, MN; Mother, Wendy Anderson and husband Ron Woolery of St. Paul Park, MN; sisters, Amanda Wooden of Little Falls, MN and Tiffany (Paul) Okroi-Hendrix of Lone Tree, CO; step-brothers, Joshua Woolery of Lakewood, CO and A1C Matthew (Sara) Woolery of Dubai; grandmother, Ferne Anderson of Lakewood, CO; grandfather, Ron Wooden & companion, Shirley Molde of Little Falls, MN; great grandmother, Ruby Anderson of Little Falls, MN; father, Lloyd Quist of CO; uncles, Gy (Gen) Wooden and family of Wheatridge, CO and Randy Anderson of Golden, CO. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the family. www.shelleyfuneralchapels.com

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Melissa Wooden

December 17, 1978 - October 2, 2009