Melanie Colson

Melanie Dione Colson, 49, of Ottawa, KS passed away April 2, 2023 at her home in Ottawa surrounded by her family.

She was born March 19, 1974 in Hays, KS the daughter of Robert Hemme and Marilyn Smith. She grew up in the Olsburg, KS area, graduating from Blue Valley High School located in Randolph, KS with the class of 1992. She later graduated from Manhattan Area Technical College with an LPN degree in 1997. In May of 1999 she and her husband moved to Lawrence, KS and in August of 2003 they moved to Ottawa, KS, where they have lived since.

On December 8, 1995 Melanie was united in marriage to Richard Colson in Manhattan, KS. They shared twenty-seven years of loving devotion.

Melanie was a lifelong homemaker and housewife. She was a kind and loving soul who was the epitome of what it is to be a mother. Her life was spent focused on her children and making sure they were well cared for. She was proud of them and always made sure they knew that was the case. She was also a lover of animals and a huge sports fan, specifically the Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Kansas State University Football. She was also a big trivia buff. If you wanted to know sports or 1970’s rock trivia, Melanie was your source. In the last week of her life she was accepted in the Christian Motorcyclist Association where she had many brothers and sisters that loved and supported her.

She is survived by her husband, Richard Colson, Ottawa, KS; four children, Logan Tyler Colson, Reilly James Colson, Colin Patrick Colson, and Sophia Grace Colson, all of Ottawa, KS; her father, Robert Hemme and his wife, Shirley, Manhattan, KS; mother, Marilyn Smith, Dwight, KS; two sisters, Reva Nicole Bell and her husband, James, DeSoto, KS; Jessica Hemme and her husband, Scott Mulryan, Dwight, KS; two step sisters, Amber Kruse and her husband, Ryan, Manhattan, KS; Andrea Stone, Omaha, NE; and one step brother, Scott Collins and his wife, Brandy, Eudora, KS.

Melanie is preceded in death by her brother, Cody Ray Johnson; and three grandparents, Ramona May and Eldon Dale Smith as well as Nell Mae Weber.

An informal Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm, Saturday, April 8, 2023 at the Ottawa City Park Gazebo, Ottawa, KS. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, KS.  The family suggests that memorial donations be made to the Franklin County Cancer Foundation or Prairie Paws Animal Shelter sent c/o Lamb-Roberts-Price Funeral Home, P.O. Box 14, Ottawa, KS 66067. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lamb-roberts.com.

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