Melissa John

     Melissa Williams John left this world on October 26, 2023, in the prime of her
life. She was fifty-three years old but looked twenty years younger. She was
stunningly beautiful inside and out, bright and positive, kind and loving, fun and
energetic, creative and generous as she danced her way through life.
   Melissa was predeceased by her father Paul Malcolm Williams and her
grandparents, Mary and Paul Williams and Gerri and Bob Crisp.
   She leaves behind to mourn her, but to draw inspiration from her remarkable
life, her husband of thirty years David Porter John and their three children, Haley
Cashion John and her husband William, Porter Melissa John and Jett Malcolm John.
Melissa is also survived by her mother Nancy Crisp Williams Dornblaser and her
husband Bob, by her sister Traci Williams Kennedy Smith and her husband Josh, by
her nephew Will Kennedy, by her niece Elizabeth Kennedy, by her aunt Julie Hester
and her husband Hess, by her uncle Bob Crisp and his wife Connie, by her first
cousins Katy Hester Lodge, Becca Hester Wilson, Rachel Hester Hinton, Catherine
Crisp, Robyn Marren and Rachel Henderson, by her mother-in-law Charlotte John
and her husband Dent Gitchel, and by a host of adoring friends.
   Melissa was a natural athlete. In high school she ran track and was a
cheerleader and a basketball player. As an adult she excelled at tennis, snow skiing
and water skiing, and was eagerly learning pickleball. Melissa loved anything
pertaining to water. She especially enjoyed boating and spending time at the lake.
   Melissa graduated from Conway High School and the University of Arkansas.
It was in Fayetteville that she met her husband David and made life-long friends,
many of them in the Kappa Kappa Gamma house. Her first job out of college was
with The American Cancer Society. However, as a teenager, she had been intrigued
watching a next-door neighbor, brief case in her hand, leave for work as a real estate
agent. It looked exciting and fun. In 1994 Melissa started her real estate career with
The Charlotte John Company, quickly achieving The Million Dollar Club sales award.
Before her death she had become executive broker and CEO of the company. She
said, “Going to work was just playtime for me with my office family.”
   Melissa had been deeply involved with CARTI since 2012. She started as a
volunteer and in 2013 was asked to chair CARTI’s Festival of Fashion. Her
leadership was instrumental in turning the festival into the phenomenal event it is
today. She chaired the event again in 2014 and remained involved every year since.
Melissa cared about CARTI’s patients and wanted to ease any barriers that came
between them and their treatment. Her passion for CARTI was evident in her
volunteer work and philanthropic efforts. She and her sister Traci were proud to
dedicate a room in the CARTI Breast Center in honor of their mother Nancy.
   Melissa belonged to Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church. A
celebration of her life will be held at a later date. Memorials can be made to CARTI
Foundation, P.O. Box 55011, Little Rock, Ar 72215. In the notes section of the check
please put “Melissa John.”

Cremation Arrangements entrusted to Arkansas Cremation. www.arkansascremation.com