In Loving Memory of Melody Avila

With extreme sadness, we announce the passing of my Mother-In-Law Melody Avila on April 10th, 2022.

The family is understandably shocked by this loss and unfortunately not prepared for all that goes along with planning a memorial at this time.

I have created this GoFundMe to raise money to assist with a memorial celebration of mom's life, shipping urns to Alabama for services, along with medical expenses for Melody's family, as this passing was ultimately a shocking, unexpected, and devastating loss.

Any help from our extended family and friends and anyone who can help us with our loss of a gracious woman I got to call my mother-in-law would be tremendously helpful.

 The family and I thank you in advance.

Melody Lee Viola Nutt (Avila) was born December 30st 1955 in Mt. Holly, New Jersey, to Victor and Nellie Nutt. Melody was the eldest daughter of three children. She became an Avila March 26th 1994…when she married the love of her life Roger Dean Avila who she joined in heaven upon her passing.

She is survived by her daughter Lisa Griffin, her son Roger B. Avila, her son-in-law Christopher Griffin, her grand-daughter Sarah Grace Griffin (her beloved peaches), daughter-in-law Natalie Huynh, her loving pet cat Dovvee and mother-in-law Joyce Gonzales.

Melody moved to CA when she was nine years old with her father. She loved both California and Alabama respectfully, both states holding particular parts of her heart as her children have lived in both.

Melody was raised on tough love, hard work and loyalty. Qualities she carried over into her life and taught to her children. She loved with a servant’s heart, and she was called MOM by many - her love knew no bounds.

Melody lived a life she knew wasn’t perfect; she worked hard for all she ever had, her love was everlasting, filled with the blessings life had given her. Yet, she was a simple kind of woman. If you sat with mom and asked her what got her through life, she would say her love for Roger, her husband, her children and her peaches, her work ethic and most of all, Jesus and a good cup of strong coffee.

If she loved you, consider yourself blessed. She will be waiting at the gate with dad when you cross the Jordan, just as they always were when you crossed their door threshold. Melody Avila was one cowboy of a woman with love as big as a Southern sky and a heart for the Lord.

She will be deeply missed; however, we hold tight to knowing she is whole again, with no pain, reunited with the love of her life, and mostly she is with Jesus.