In memory of

Melissa Kay Smart

Jan 16, 1969
Jan 10, 2020

Obituary

Melissa Kay Northrop Smart passed away peacefully at her home on January 10, 2020 at the age of 50 with her husband at her side. She was born on January 16, 1969 on a cold and snowy day in LaGrande, Oregon. In 1970 her family moved to Salem, Oregon where she spent most of the rest of her life. After high school Melissa moved to Eugene. In 1991 at the age of 22 she was baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The following year she chose to go on a mission for the church and was called to the Belgium Brussels Mission, a French-speaking mission that covered parts of France, Luxembourg, and Belgium. During the year and a half of her mission, Melissa honed her French and lovingly served as a representative of Jesus Christ to the people in her assigned areas. She developed many close friendships and grew in her faith and testimony of the Savior during this time.

When Melissa returned from her mission she moved back to Salem, attending Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon and majoring in English. She met Bryan Smart in October of 1998 at a Halloween barn dance held by the local singles ward of the church. They quickly fell in love and married in the Portland Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on Saturday, June 26, 1999. Over the next several years Melissa and Bryan joyfully experienced the birth of their four children Josie, Noah, Jonah, and Zoë. Melissa was happy to make caring for her children and husband her full-time job, and was the heart of their home throughout her married life. Melissa was a dedicated wife, loving mother, fabulous cook, talented artist, and a lover of books and period TV dramas. She had an infectious sense of humor, clever wit, and a way with words that makes me wonder why we didn’t have her write this. Melissa was a great student of the scriptures, and continued to serve in the church in many capacities, from secretary in the stake relief society presidency to primary teacher and everything in between. She made her family's home a place of peace where the Spirit of the Lord could reside. She was a courageous woman who did all she could to remain with and raise her family in love and righteousness. As Proverbs 31:10 says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."

She is survived by her husband Bryan Smart, children Josie Virginia, Noah David, Jonah Bryan and Zoë Melissa Smart, brothers Jeff Northrop and Mitch Northrop, sister Marni Postlewait, and parents-in-law David and Lois Smart, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents Josie Kuhn and Theron and Kay Northrop, parents Theron Northrop Jr. and Gena Northrop, brother Greg Northrop, and uncles Bobby Kuhn and Norman Northrop.

Service Information

Funeral Services
Monday January 20, 2019 11 AM - Viewing at 10 am
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
1850 Brush College Rd NW, Salem, OR 97304
~Melissa will be laid to rest at Restlawn Cemetery immediately following the service~

Gallery

Messages of Sympathy

  1. Gary and Rachel Blake says:

    Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. Melissa brought such Joy in this life and she will be remembered for her beautiful spirit. May you find comfort as you reflect. Love you all.

  2. Glenn Parkhurst says:

    A great family is what I see who will now have to deal with their great loss. I will always remember what Brigham Young said as people racked with pain and suffering cross into the spirit world.

    That person making that transition out of this life into the next will experience a joy beyond measure to be relieved of that pain and suffering. He also said it will be walking into a room of brightness compared to the dark world that they came from and will be met by friends and relatives.
    He also said this will bring great joy and will wait anxiously to a time that they can once again have their entire family with them.

    They will be (as permitted) to travel in a moment to visit other places as our spirits will be able to do things that the body would not allow.
    With all this being said and para phrased into my own words we will also long for the day we can be resurrected and reunited with our body for some limitations apply to being in the spirit world as well.
    All is well.The Lord has a great plan!

  3. Chris & Sharol Frogley says:

    We loved Sister Northrop as she served in the Brussels Belgium Mission. She brought joy into so many lives and was well loved in the mission. She will be sorely missed until we can hold her again one day as we meet in the celestial realm of our Father. Thank you Melissa and May God bless your family.

  4. Judy Albrecht says:

    This is a beautiful tribute to Melissa. She gave so much in her short time here on the earth. We hope and pray you feel the comforter in your hearts and home in the days and weeks to come. We love you!

  5. Lisa Clift says:

    What a beautiful obituary for such a beautiful and sweet woman. May the Lord bless you as a family at this very tough time. Hold those memories close.

  6. William and Terry Mathis says:

    While we met Melissa only once or twice, calling the Smart family friends for over 50 years and the Smart boys since their birth, we deeply share in their grief but know that grief turns into joy and celebration of the journey this special person, Melissa, now enters.

  7. Jeanie Johnson says:

    We love you, Melissa, and will miss you very much until we meet again. May God please bless your family while you are away.

  8. Allyson Keskey Lissy says:

    God bless you Sister Northrop. Our family is sending prayers for your family and friends.

  9. Diane and Todd Burnham says:

    So sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with your family. So happy you have such wonderful memories with her.

  10. Staff of Johnson Funeral Home says:

    Thank you for trusting Johnson Funeral Home with Melissa; a wonderful mother and daughter of God. May all of her family find peace.

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