Melissa Arnett Obituary

Melissa Montgomery Arnett aged 66, of Lawrence, Kansas, was surrounded by her family when she succumbed to cancer on Tuesday September 27, 2016, at her home.

Melissa was born July 2, 1950, in Albany, Georgia, the first of Dorothy and Walter "Wolf" Montgomery's four children. She grew up in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Lawrence, and married Carl Arnett in 1967. She stayed home with their two sons, teaching herself to cook and bake by watching Julia Child on TV. She spent the early 1980s learning commercial baking at a downtown Lawrence restaurant and in 1984 opened Goodies Gourmet in a Lawrence shopping center with Carl and the boys and ran it until 1986. The deli featured home made bread, sandwiches, pasta salads, and elegant desserts.

In the early 1990s, Melissa brought her bread and cookies to the Lawrence Farmer's Market, where she had a popular stall for several years.

The matriarch of the family, Melissa loved the visual arts, gardening, and music. She encouraged these interests in her children and grandchildren, whom she doted on. Her interests varied widely and she loved Lawrence, but her heart belonged to the mountains of Colorado. Holiday dinners were events filled with laughter and stories. She made birthdays special by baking your favorite dessert.

Melissa is survived by her husband, Carl, her son Jason Arnett and wife Bobbi Lara, Lawrence; her son Nathaniel Arnett, Topeka; her sister Nancy Montgomery, Lawrence; brother Scott Montgomery and wife Jana, Lawrence; brother Matthew Montgomery and wife Tina, Eudora; brother-in-law Robert Arnett and wife Kimberlee, Lawrence; Sherrie Born, Eudora; grandchildren Randy, Callahan, Wilson, Paige, Eli, and Natalee; and many cousins, nephews and nieces, as well as an extended family scattered across the United States.

The family will receive friends at 1215 Rhode Island St on Sunday October 2, 2016, from 2 - 4 pm. Private services will be held at a later time.

Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.