Shesten Bri Melder

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https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9154321981?pwd=YkVWZ3BlTS9lTGUwZmdWclQyK3dRdz09
Meeting ID: 915 432 1981,    Passcode: lazonaward

Shesten Bri Melder, 40, passed away, January 19, 2022, in her home with family and close friends near by. She was fighting a long hard battle with colon cancer, a valiant warrior to the end. Shesten was the first child born, November 24, 1981, to Toni Louise (Berg) Robie and John (J. R.) Frederick Robie. She was happy and active. She was excited to have a little brother coming almost when she was 4 years old so she could play with his toys.

She learned how to work early in life at the family fast food restaurant, J.R.’s Fish Chips, in Gilbert, AZ. She loved to take and serve orders and prided herself in making the correct change to the customers! She was a beautiful girl with very expressive eyes. She was known to even scare teachers with her “Robie-Eye” stare.

At 11 years old she fell in love with basketball. She was a starter on the 11 year old Girl’s Wham basketball team which won the State Championship. This began her basketball “career”. She attended basketball camps and clinics and continued to improve her skills in the game she loved so much. At 13 she was a starter on the Scottsdale Community College Summer Team. She had to be a student at SCC and began her college education at 13. taking the class of basketball each semester. She played in college tournaments in Oregon, North and South California, Nevada, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. She often was leading in assists, blocks and rebounds. She shot 3 pointers, layups, and had a beautiful jump shot. She played tough and received awards for her efforts as well as sportsmanship. She played on the varsity teams in high school for Mesa High and Dobson High. She was injured with a complete ACL tear and after 3 surgeries had to give up playing her favorite game. She graduated from Dobson High School with academic honors. She attended Scottsdale and Mesa Community Colleges and earned her Associates Degree with honors and more than enough hours. She found the man she wanted to spend Eternity with, Devin Shane Melder, and married him on May 30, 2003. She was a fan of Lacrosse and Baseball and enjoyed going to the games.

She loved hiking with her husband! They loved taking pictures of Shesten in scary poses, especially to send to her Mom. Her favorite place to hike was Zion National Park and the Superstition Mountain hiking trails were often frequented by her. She loved to travel. She had plans to hike at all the National Parks, to travel in Europe and visit many places in the world. She went on Safari in South Africa with her husband and his family. But she went exploring the area where there were no animals to hunt. She, Devin and Tennyson went to Budapest, Hungary and Prague, Czech Republic and traveled the surrounding areas and enjoyed it immensely. She went on a national historic trip to Atlantic City, New Jersey and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and the surrounding historical sites with her Mom and taught her Mom about our American History. They had so many great experiences together.

She enjoyed working. She was the Training Director for Ticketmaster and traveled to many cities planning, organizing, and negotiating for Ticketmaster. She left Ticketmaster and started her own business as an event planner. She planned many events. She started an online fashion jewelry and accessories shop, Swoon, and had “pop-up” events all over Mesa with her best friend from high school. They also started MADE: A local Market, an event for craters to sell their wares. These were large events in the Mesa Convention Center and also in other areas around the East Valley. She loved being an entrepreneur. Most of all she loved her family, especially her little daughter, Tennyson! She is the love of her life.

She fought the hard battle with cancer to be with her Tenzibelle for as long as she could. Shes enjoyed the times they would snuggle together and watch movies or TV series and then talk about them. She gave her the best birthday parties and was always teaching her about the things she wanted her to know. She was influential in many peoples lives. She loved helping and counseling with others, giving support wherever it was needed.

She is a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She often discussed her beliefs with others. She held many various callings, Primary Teacher, Sunday School Teacher, Young Women’s Leader, Relief Society Teacher, Relief Society Activities Leader. And Ward Missionary.

She was a forever student of life. She loved to read and loved to learn. She had a literary blog, Literologie, where she wrote honest reviews and had discussions of young adult books. She was well-respected in this adventure, as in all that she did. Publishing houses and authors would send books for her honest reviews. Some authors had her edit some of their books. She loved doing this and has a great library of young adult books. She was an excellent writer herself, but never published any of her works. She had to end this part of her life when the chemotherapy effected her eyes and made it difficult to read.

She loved to cook and bake and try different and exotic foods. She enjoyed trying new restaurant adventures with her Mom after treatments while she could still eat. They found many wonderful restaurants and shared their experiences with others. She loved playing the game, King of Avalon and had many friends from all over the world. She was always helping them with negotiations and marches that could win big.

She is survived by her loyal and loving husband of 18 ½ years, Devin Shane Melder and their daughter, Tennyson Celeste Melder, her parents, J. R. and Toni Robie, her brother, J. Rett Robie and sister-in-law, Heather Marie Robie and niece, Annabelle Lee Robie. Her maternal grandparents, Arthella Dees Berg and Anton Roy Berg and paternal grandparents, Faye Catherine (Taylor) Robie and Everett Gaye Robie preceded her in death. She will be greatly missed by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

She was a unique, lovely, caring person who loved to give service and help others. Her generous spirit was kind but she did not like to be thought of as nice. She could hold her own with anyone and often did. She was a strong advocate of “Girl Power” and helped enable other women to know of their own worth and power. She was and is a powerful force for good.

Her Graveside Service will be Friday, January 28th, 2022, 10 AM at the Mesa City Cemetery. That evening, starting at 5PM in the Cultural Hall of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the corner of Barkley and Sixth Ave in Mesa, AZ, will be a Celebration of Life party she planned for her family and friends. She wanted them to celebrate and not be sad. She planned some of her favorite things to be shared at this last celebration event. For those who are unable to attend either event, the Lazona Ward is providing them through Zoom.

This is the link for both events. Join Zoom Meeting  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9154321981?pwd=YkVWZ3BlTS9lTGUwZmdWclQyK3dRdz09
Meeting ID: 915 432 1981,    Passcode: lazonaward

Shesten has requested that all her family and friends write some memories and experiences that you have had with her and send them to her family so that they can compile them into a book for her daughter Tennyson to learn more about the life of her Mother.

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.