Melissa Estelle Toms was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on September 25th, 1953, and passed away from complications related to Cortical Basal Syndrome on January 8th, 2023.

Melissa grew up on the water in Key West, Florida, as one of four siblings, where she learned to swim and fish. She loved to eat coconuts from the palm trees and run barefoot. She was a curly-haired island girl.

Melissa moved from Florida to Delaware in the late 1970s. She met her husband at Alloy Surfaces, a small aerospace company. Melissa was the office manager, personnel manager, purchasing agent, safety director, U.S. security, and site manager. She then enjoyed a 20-year successful career as a real estate broker. In retirement, she served many years as a volunteer for the Lutheran Community Services food bank, picking up and delivering food for the needy.

She was a happy, delightful, eternal optimist who always saw the glass half-full. She was an extraordinary cook who loved to entertain; the more, the merrier. She oversaw the family thanksgiving dinner at our house, which grew generationally for almost 40 years-thriving on orchestrating the drama of a sit-down dinner for 30 with silver, china, crystal, lots of candles, and cloth napkins! Not to mention patio parties, Christmas parties, and hosting guests regularly.

She was an inspiration for her daughters, who share many of her traits, humor, excellent work ethic, empathy, kindness, and a love of cooking.

Melissa is survived by her husband of 40 years, Steven T. McGowan; their two daughters, Laura Elizabeth McGowan, Davis, CA., and Amanda Cecilia McGowan, Philadelphia, PA; sisters, Eunice Eugenia McGarahan (Richard McGarahan), Dale Rosalyn Moore (Robert Moore); and brother Russell David Toms Jr (Leslie Toms). Melissa was predeceased by her parents, Russell David Toms and Eunice Eugenia Toms (Stripling).

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lutheran Community Services Wilmington, DE () or Cure PSP organization ().