Obituaries

Melanie Ruth Carlson

Photo of Melanie Ruth Carlson
Melanie Ruth Carlson departed this life unexpectedly on January 30, 2017. She was born on December 12, 1960 in Memphis, Tenn. and was raised in Crawfordsville, Ark. She attended high school at St. Mary's Episcopal School in Memphis where she was a star athlete in basketball, volleyball, and softball. Melanie attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas and then the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a major in history. She was a proud member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority and loyally attended an annual reunion with her "Fab 5" sisters since graduation. She attended law school at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where she was a member of the law review. Melanie was admitted to the bar in 1987, and she began her career as a judicial clerk for Judge Judith Rogers. She served as Judge Roger's clerk at the Arkansas Court of Appeals starting in 1989, and then went on to clerk for Judge John Jennings, Judge Terry Crabtree, and Judge Sarah Heffley. In 2009, Melanie began clerking for Justice Courtney Goodson, first at the Court of Appeals and then at the Arkansas Supreme Court, where she was employed at the time of her death. She was a dedicated and devoted law clerk, whose contributions to the court and to the pursuit of justice will be sorely missed. In her honor, the offices of the state Supreme Court will be closed for a period of one week. Melanie was an avid tennis player participating in the United States Tennis Association where she performed as a 4.0 player. She also enjoyed gardening, bird watching and hiking. She was a gentle soul whose brilliant intellect made her an engaging person to be around. So many hearts are wounded by her sudden passing and she will be fondly remembered by them all. She is survived by her parents, Ralph and Dixie Carlson; her sister, Christie (Keith); her brothers, Bubba (Rhonda) and Mark (Kathy); her nieces and nephews who she loved dearly, Adam (Abbie) Carlson, Gibby Lou Carlson, Becca (Douglas) Luetjen, Stuart Carlson, Gavin Carlson, Lindsay (Joey) Schafer, Rose Schafer, Dixie Schafer, Erik Carlson (Kelli), .Emma Carlson, Maddie Lynn Carlson, and Zac Carlson; her beloved friend, Kathy Phillips; and her four dogs, Jack, Lili, Toby and Andy. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 2 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Trinity In The Fields Anglican Church, 100 East Military, Marion, Ark. The funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. followed by the Internment at Crittenden Memorial Park. Memorial gifts can be designated to the Delta Delta Delta Chapter House project at the University of Arkansas, 300 University House, One University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. 72701 or to the Pulaski County Humane Society, warmhearts.org.

Published February 1, 2017

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