Melissa Rose Payne

Melissa Rose Payne (nee Hill), 45, of Citrus Heights, CA, passed away on the evening of October 30, 2024. Melissa was diagnosed with scleroderma in her early 20s, and after living her fullest life while managing with the chronic pain and complications from this disease, she passed away surrounded by her entire family. 

Melissa was born on March 30, 1979, in Sacramento, CA, and was raised by Margie and Jeff Nevis. As a young child, the family moved to West Sacramento, where Melissa went to school and graduated from River City High School in 1997. She made two beautiful children, Gabriel Anthony and Mia Rose, whom she loved fiercely. 

Melissa was a vibrant, sassy, wild and free spirit who brought light into every room she entered. Her easy smile and ready laugh were infectious, filling the air with warmth and joy. Scrappy and feisty, she fought hard to create a good life for her family, embracing each challenge with grit and determination. Melissa had a unique, almost innate connection to her animals, nurturing bonds that went beyond words. In her spare time, she reveled in nature, finding peace in kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, fishing, camping, as well as in cherished visits to the ocean. 

Melissa is survived by her children, Gabriel Anthony and Mia Rose; mother and father, Margie and Jeff Nevis; her sister, Julie Hill Delong; her nephews, David and Tyler DeLong; her partner, Joe Zealor. She is predeceased by her brother Jeremy Nevis, and biological father, Gary Hill.