Karen Melton

Karen Randall Melton of Caledonia, aged 61, passed into peace after a long battle with cancer on December 5, 2019.
Karen was born December 12, 1957 in Detroit, to Christine Chmielewski Randall and Richard Randall.  She spent her formative years in the small town of Croswell, Michigan, where she proudly played percussion for the Cros-Lex High School Pioneers, was active in 4H and learned the skills that would make her an expert seamstress.
She attended Michigan State University, receiving at B.A. in Social Work in 1980. It was MSU that brought her together with Larry Melton of Detroit.  They were married on August 30, 1980, a love affair that abided until her death.
Karen’s social work career began at Head Start in Fort Wayne Indiana.  Larry and Karen moved to Grand Rapids in 1983, and Karen went to work at Forest View Psychiatric Hospital as the evening supervisor.
She received an MSW degree from Western Michigan University in 1990 and spent the early 90s as a clinical therapist.
In January 1995, Karen found her greatest calling, joyously choosing the life of a stay-at-home mom upon the birth of her daughter Hannah Paige. Through the next few years, Karen was a tireless volunteer at Emmons Lake Elementary school.  She headed up the Reading Incentive Program, a celebration of reading and a schoolwide success story that continues today, inspiring new generations of kids to become avid readers.
In July, 2003, Karen, Larry and Hannah embarked on a journey to Ukraine, with the goal of completing their family by adopting a sister for Hannah. They returned home in early August with Natasha Grace Melton, born May 5, 2000, and a new chapter unfolded.
Through the next few years, Karen continued her volunteer work at Emmons Lake, as well as joining the board of the Caledonia Education Foundation.  She was a lay minister and Faith Formation teacher at Holy Family Parish in Caledonia, and she began to costume plays as her daughters and husband took the stage.  Karen spent hundreds of hours creating costumes for Peter Pan, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie, Once Upon a Mattress, Willy Wonka and many more shows at CCP and Caledonia High School.
In 2012, Karen decided to re-enter the work force as a classroom paraprofessional at Kraft Meadows Middle School, but it wasn’t until a couple of years later when she found her dream job as the school librarian. Using her love of reading and deep-seated belief that it’s the springboard for all educational success and advancement, Karen transformed the Kraft Meadows library into a paradise for young readers.  Circulation increased, book fair sales hit new highs, and students enjoyed the library as a place of wonder and adventure.  When Karen’s cancer was diagnosed in March of this year, she was forced to retire from this second career that she treasured deeply, grateful for the opportunity to have made a real difference in so many young lives during her 4-plus years in that role.
Karen enjoyed cooking for her family and others and was incredibly talented in the kitchen. Her quiche, soups, and desserts were legendary in the Caledonia community – not just delicious, but also always beautiful.  Whether it was meals for teachers during conference week, raising money for Hannah’s trip to Morocco, or entertaining her beloved Bunco Babes every December, there were rarely leftovers of the dishes that Karen prepared.
She was an avid crafter and stamper, using her design skills to create beautiful cards, gift tags, and scrapbook materials.
December and the holiday season brought out the best in Karen.  It was her birthday month, and she reveled in the music, magic, decorations, and joy of the season.  Friends and family basked in the warmth of her hospitality and Christmas spirit.
Karen leaves behind scores of loving friends who provided constant love and support through her cancer journey.  To Karen, family was everything, and she will be missed deeply by her husband Larry of 39 years, daughters Hannah, 24, and Natasha, 19, and her steadfast protector, Bella.  She is survived by her mother Christine (Chmielewski) Helmus, sister Kimberly (Mitseff), brothers Kevin, Kyle, and Keith and their spouses, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins with whom she shared special bonds.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at 11 am at Holy Family Catholic Church, 9669 Kraft SE, Caledonia, with Rev. Steven Durkee presiding. Relatives and friends may meet the family Monday from 3-8 pm at Matthysse-Kuiper-DeGraaf Funeral Home, 616 E. Main St., Caledonia, with a Rosary at 7 pm.
In lieu of flowers, and in celebration of Karen’s upcoming birthday and passion for reading,   please consider a donation of a book or bookstore gift certificate to help build the Kraft Meadows Middle School library.