As written by Dawn herself:
Melissa Dawn Bennett-Bentley was born July 16, 1950, adopted daughter of Don R. and Juanita Moore Bennett and birth child of Blanche Bennett. She shuffled off this mortal coil on March 22, 2018, from complications of syringomyelia, a rare spinal affliction that in the end rendered her wheelchair bound, bedridden, and unable to care for herself. All who love her are relieved that she is now out of the chronic pain she endured–complaining, but always with a smile–for nearly 14 years, the last of which she spent in Price, Utah, with her daughter Megan and her family.
Her homes were Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the Branson, Missouri, area. She attended Evanston High School and Weber State College, majoring in journalism, which served her well and expanded upon her hobby of writing. She created ‘Wishful Thinking’, a humorous weekly column published in three Missouri newspapers. She published 400+ articles over 10 years, and once was recognized as Columnist of the Year. She also co-authored a book with a son-in-law titled Alaskan Bush Pilot. She continued to write for the rest of her life, finishing family biographies and her autobiography. She was best known in the Carbon County area as the director of sales for the Holiday Inn of Price for 10 years.
Being a mother and grandmother was her greatest satisfaction and joy in life. From a young age, she passionately loved and continued to love her increasing progeny for the next 52 years. She leaves daughters Brenda Francis, Juanita Gish (Dan) Paulette Bentley Sanchez (Anthony), Sandi Bentley Nielsen (Troy), Kirsten Weber, Melanie Archibeque-Clark (Josh), Megan Archibeque Marshall (Jason) and her sons Jacob Reuban Archibeque (Heather), and Jesse Archibeque. In addition, she leaves 19 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She also leaves one brother, Larry Don Bennett, cousins galore, friends for life, her soul sister Karen T, Sophie the wonder dog, and her newest companion parakeets, Cheech & Chong.
Her loved ones are comforted in the knowledge that she is curled up in her beloved mother‘s lap–reunited once again–along with many others who went before who were waiting to embrace her. She is preceded in death by many friends and relatives, including her parents, son Richard Weber, son-in-law Keith Hooker, grandson Logan Miller, and granddaughter Amelia Lynn Archibeque.
Missy Dawn was a firm believer in eternal family; it was of great comfort to her. She was a lifelong member, not counting a 15 year hiatus, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many church callings over the years and loved teaching Gospel Doctrine. She believed in the institution of marriage and was happily “institutionalized” over the years–not simultaneously–with Brent Weber, Felix Archie Archibeque, Richard Graves (deceased), Alton Gore (deceased), and spent 14 years married to the long-suffering, ever-patient Clemont Bentley of Price, Utah. (Deceased)
According to her wishes, she was cremated and will be interred next to her mother in her beloved Missouri Ozarks. Visitation will be at Mitchell’s Funeral Home, 233 E Main St. Price, Utah, on Tuesday March 27, 2018, at 6 PM. Services will be at the LDS 3rd Ward, 303 West 500 South Price, Utah, on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at 11 AM, under the direction of Bishop Scott Jensen.
Missy Dawn leaves this message: “To die… To sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream… Aye, there’s the rub! For in the sleep of death what dreams may come?” -Shakespeare’s Hamlet
“We are governed by the laws of physics, as are all living things; hearts slow down as they age, then, upon finally stopping for good, they approach the speed of light – the point at which matter is converted into energy–into pure light–just as I am now. Although, I am no longer with you, my spirit will be all around, watching over you. Do not mourn me, for I’ll be waiting, my darlings, in my recycled, renewed, damage-free and perfected body, so when you pass over, my arms will open wide to welcome you and we will begin our blissful eternal lives–together forever: watching home movies, climbing trees, making fairy houses, singing in perfect harmony, and laughing hysterically–just like we used to do!”
Melissa Dawn Bennett-Bentley was born July 16, 1950, adopted daughter of Don R. and Juanita Moore Bennett and birth child of Blanche Bennett. She shuffled off this mortal coil on March 22, 2018, from complications of syringomyelia, a rare spinal affliction that in the end rendered her wheelchair bound, bedridden, and unable to care for herself. All who love her are relieved that she is now out of the chronic pain she endured–complaining, but always with a smile–for nearly 14 years, the last of which she spent in Price, Utah, with her daughter Megan and her family.
Her homes were Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the Branson, Missouri, area. She attended Evanston High School and Weber State College, majoring in journalism, which served her well and expanded upon her hobby of writing. She created ‘Wishful Thinking’, a humorous weekly column published in three Missouri newspapers. She published 400+ articles over 10 years, and once was recognized as Columnist of the Year. She also co-authored a book with a son-in-law titled Alaskan Bush Pilot. She continued to write for the rest of her life, finishing family biographies and her autobiography. She was best known in the Carbon County area as the director of sales for the Holiday Inn of Price for 10 years.
Being a mother and grandmother was her greatest satisfaction and joy in life. From a young age, she passionately loved and continued to love her increasing progeny for the next 52 years. She leaves daughters Brenda Francis, Juanita Gish (Dan) Paulette Bentley Sanchez (Anthony), Sandi Bentley Nielsen (Troy), Kirsten Weber, Melanie Archibeque-Clark (Josh), Megan Archibeque Marshall (Jason) and her sons Jacob Reuban Archibeque (Heather), and Jesse Archibeque. In addition, she leaves 19 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. She also leaves one brother, Larry Don Bennett, cousins galore, friends for life, her soul sister Karen T, Sophie the wonder dog, and her newest companion parakeets, Cheech & Chong.
Her loved ones are comforted in the knowledge that she is curled up in her beloved mother‘s lap–reunited once again–along with many others who went before who were waiting to embrace her. She is preceded in death by many friends and relatives, including her parents, son Richard Weber, son-in-law Keith Hooker, grandson Logan Miller, and granddaughter Amelia Lynn Archibeque.
Missy Dawn was a firm believer in eternal family; it was of great comfort to her. She was a lifelong member, not counting a 15 year hiatus, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She held many church callings over the years and loved teaching Gospel Doctrine. She believed in the institution of marriage and was happily “institutionalized” over the years–not simultaneously–with Brent Weber, Felix Archie Archibeque, Richard Graves (deceased), Alton Gore (deceased), and spent 14 years married to the long-suffering, ever-patient Clemont Bentley of Price, Utah. (Deceased)
According to her wishes, she was cremated and will be interred next to her mother in her beloved Missouri Ozarks. Visitation will be at Mitchell’s Funeral Home, 233 E Main St. Price, Utah, on Tuesday March 27, 2018, at 6 PM. Services will be at the LDS 3rd Ward, 303 West 500 South Price, Utah, on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at 11 AM, under the direction of Bishop Scott Jensen.
Missy Dawn leaves this message: “To die… To sleep; to sleep, perchance to dream… Aye, there’s the rub! For in the sleep of death what dreams may come?” -Shakespeare’s Hamlet
“We are governed by the laws of physics, as are all living things; hearts slow down as they age, then, upon finally stopping for good, they approach the speed of light – the point at which matter is converted into energy–into pure light–just as I am now. Although, I am no longer with you, my spirit will be all around, watching over you. Do not mourn me, for I’ll be waiting, my darlings, in my recycled, renewed, damage-free and perfected body, so when you pass over, my arms will open wide to welcome you and we will begin our blissful eternal lives–together forever: watching home movies, climbing trees, making fairy houses, singing in perfect harmony, and laughing hysterically–just like we used to do!”