Dearest Family and Friends, 
 

It’s with the deepest sadness that we write to tell you that our daughter, our sister, Melisse passed away Friday evening, December 1, 2006.  She had been suffering terribly from bipolar disorder for almost two years, but her sudden death is still a shock to everyone.  She was 21, on leave from Trinity University in San Antonio and had been living at home and working as a NRI and GIS data collector at the Natural Resources Conservation Service at David’s office.

Our family is all here in Crowley now – David arrived Saturday from NRCS field work in Wyoming, Khim drove in with her fiancée Chris from Midland that day, and Alton flew back early from grad school in Italy on Sunday.  David’s grandparents also flew in on Sunday, and aunts, uncles, godparents, and cousins are en route.   
 

Melisse has left us for a better place, but her memories and traces of her beautiful spirit, her quirky sense of humor, and her love still surround us.  The Christmas tree she decorated with Eng stands stoically in our foyer, and the new goldfish she bought, probably intentionally the ugliest one at the pet store, swims defiant circles in the kitchen tank.  The cat sits and stares at her bedroom door.  We miss her so much. 
 

The house is filled with sorrow, but also with love – and food.  Our neighbors and friends have been so generous with their support and their ovens.  We will always be indebted to you for the kindness you’ve shown us this week. 
 

We are holding three services for Melisse in Fort Worth and Temple.  A visitation will be held from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, December 5 at Greenwood Funeral Home at 3100 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76107.  A funeral service will be held in Fort Worth at 1 pm on Wednesday, December 6 at Grace Lutheran Church at 7900 McCart Avenue, Fort Worth, Texas 76123. 
 

A memorial service will also be held in Temple, Texas at 2 pm on Thursday, December 7 at 4204 Hickory Road at Covenant Lutheran Church. 
 

We will be setting up a charity for donations in her name.  Further information and an obituary is available at www.gracefw.org/MelisseBuland   
 

Thank you again for the love and support you are showing us these most difficult days.  Melisse never forgot how much love there is in the world, and neither will we.   
 

With Faith, 
 

David, Eng, Alton, and Khim