Linda Ann Melewski, who was loving called "La", passed away at the age of 77 on February 6, 2023, in Yuma, Arizona, after a battle with cancer.  She was born July 6th, 1945, in San Francisco, CA, daughter of Carl Beutler (deceased March 13, 2016) and Sara Francis Greenbaum (deceased December 17, 2005).

Linda grew up in San Francisco until she was 2 and moved to Washington, living in Federal Way, Auburn, and Renton until 2007, when she moved to Yuma, Arizona, enjoying sunny retirement life. If you asked Linda where she was from, she happily said "Warshington".  She loved adding a "r" to the state name and put an emphasis on the r sound as well.  No reason, just something she did from a long time ago and always made the family smile when she said it.

Linda married Butch Melewski, the love of her life and best friend, on August 25th, 1976. They had a long and loving marriage of which they were together for 46 years.
Linda and Butch spent many of their retired years traveling the United States in a motorhome and had gone thru all but 6 of the states.  Making friends wherever she went with her kind and sweet nature.

Linda had worked in the service industry as a waitress, worked at Boeing, created special occasion candles for Lunds Lites and ended up buying the business and enjoyed being a business owner for 6 years.  One of the unique benefits of owning and working in a candle shop was that Linda always had a sweet fragrance to her.  She beautified many lives with her one of kind candles that brought much joy to many clients.

Linda was an animal lover at heart.  She loved every living creature and always stopped to greet her furry and feather friends.  Whenever she went on walks, she always carried dog treats in her pockets to say hi to a new furry friend.  Over Linda's life she had many pets that she called her furry kids. Her German Shepherd's, Easy, Tuffy, Dusty, Smokey and Tasha, Tootsie the black lab, Peaches a cockatiel, Sonny a parrot, Sami an African Gray parrot, and Ruby an Eclectus parrot.

Anyone who knew Linda, knew she was a special soul immense with passion for life and always a positive source in whatever group she was in.

She thoroughly enjoyed dancing, listening to country music, yard work, boating and always moving furniture in her home to create warm and inviting rooms to visit with friends and families.  She missed her calling in interior design in how beautiful she made her homes.

Another unique talent Linda provided for family and friends was always finding clouds that looked like animals or rock structures along a boating excursion that resembled animals along the banks of the Colorado river.  She kept our imaginations healthy with the joy she found in nature.

Linda is survived by her husband, Butch; son, Marty Hansford from her marriage to Dick Hansford, Her sisters, Teri Rodriguez and husband, Ed; Karen Nicholls and husband, Kevin; Carlea, brothers, Kurt Greenbaum and John Beutler.  She had her nephew Daryl Rees and wife; Jennifer, and nieces, Sarah, Abby and Rachel Nicholls.  Her two grandchildren, Grayson Hansford and Madeline Hansford.

We know that God is pleased to have one of His kind and generous angels back in his arms.  She will be sorely missed by those on earth.

A Celebration of Linda's life will be held this summer at the family's home in Washington.  Private cremation and arrangements were handled by Sunset Vista Funeral Home and Crematory.