Melody Johnny
Obituary

Melody Johnny, born Melody Young, passed away peacefully at home in Lynnwood, Washington, on September 28, 2026, at 5:50 p.m., surrounded by the people she loved. She was 59 years old.

Melody was born on July 31, 1967, in Marrero, Louisiana, to Melvin Alfred Young and Sandra Lee Barse, both of whom preceded her in death. She was raised in Johnstown, New York, before embarking on a life that would take her farther than most.

In her twenties, Melody made Las Vegas her home, ultimately spending more than 25 years of her life there. Her adventurous spirit also took her across the world, including a period living in Nigeria. In the final years of her life, she called Lynnwood, Washington, home.

Melody lived a life filled with stories.

She worked in many roles throughout the years—as a server, barista, truck driver, flight attendant, and travel agent, among others. Whatever she was doing, she threw herself into it wholeheartedly. She loved people, took pride in providing exceptional service, and could make a connection almost anywhere she went. Of all her experiences, she especially loved reminiscing about her days as a flight attendant and the adventures that came with them.

Travel was one of Melody’s greatest joys. She loved seeing the world, cruising, playing mah-jongg, and making memories with the people she loved. The Caribbean held a particularly special place in her heart. Italy remained the destination she dreamed of visiting but never had the opportunity to see.

More than any destination, however, family was home to Melody.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Oseremen Johnny; her children, Shayna Phillips, Jacqueline Mosquera, and Sergio Rodriguez; her sister, April Jemmott, who remained by her side through the very end; and her three beloved grandchildren, Lyric, Eddie, and Leandro.

Being a mother was one of Melody’s greatest sources of pride, and becoming “Mimi” brought another kind of joy into her life. She spoke often about how proud she was of her children and how deeply she loved her grandchildren. Even as the end of her life approached, she expressed that she knew her family would be okay. Knowing that gave her peace.

Anyone who knew Melody knew her heart.

She was outgoing, loving, generous, and larger than life. She was the kind of person who truly would have taken the shirt off her back and given it to someone who needed it—even if it were the only shirt she had. She believed deeply in bringing family together and tried whenever she could to create moments where everyone could simply be together.

Melody also understood something about life that many people spend a lifetime trying to learn: tomorrow is never promised.

She lived accordingly.

She traveled. She laughed. She took chances. She started over. She made plans and, when those plans didn’t work, she made another one. No matter what obstacle life placed in front of her, Melody found a way to stand back up and keep moving. There was always a Plan B.

She often reminded her family:

“You’re born, you live, you die—so make the best of it, and don’t take life for granted.”

She encouraged the people she loved to do the things they dreamed about because no one knows what tomorrow will bring. And, with the humor those closest to her will immediately recognize, she would sometimes add:

“Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it—and it’s not going to be the way you want it!”

In the final chapter of her life, Melody faced ovarian cancer. The battle was far too short, and the end came far too soon, but cancer never became the definition of who she was.

Even through extraordinarily difficult circumstances, Melody remained hopeful. She continued telling the people around her that she was okay, that she was going to fight, and that when she beat cancer, she was going to travel the world again. She held tightly to that positivity until her final days.

Melody also held Jesus Christ close to her heart. Although she was not outwardly religious, her faith was personal and meaningful to her. She accepted Jesus into her heart and carried that faith with her through the end of her life.

Above all, Melody wanted to be remembered as she was in health, not in sickness—happy, adventurous, outspoken, generous, full of stories, surrounded by family, and often the brightest presence in the room.

In keeping with Melody’s wishes, there will be no traditional funeral service. Instead, she asked her children to do something much more fitting for the life she lived: take a cruise together to the Caribbean and scatter her ashes over the sea she loved so much.

It will be one final journey for a woman who spent her life reminding everyone else to go see the world while they still could.

Melody’s family invites everyone who knew and loved her to share their stories, photographs, memories, and the little things they will miss most about her. Those stories are part of her legacy and will help ensure that her children, grandchildren, family, and friends continue to know Melody not for the illness at the end of her life, but for the extraordinary life that came before it.

So when you remember Melody, remember her laughing.

Remember her traveling.

Remember the stories.

Remember her generosity.

Remember her determination to get back up whenever life knocked her down.

Remember the woman who loved her family fiercely and wanted everyone together whenever possible.

And perhaps the best way to honor her is simply to take her advice:

Don’t take life for granted. Do the thing you’ve been waiting to do. Take the trip. Spend time with your family. Make the memory.

Because tomorrow was never Melody’s favorite time to live.

She lived today.