Melissa Kari McCown Lingar 64 left this world on April 27, 2023, with her husband, daughter & son in law by her side. Melissa was born on November 24, 1958, in Richmond, IN. to Archie & Neva Archey McCown.

Melissa graduated from Richmond High School in 1977. Her only child, Scheleta was born in 1980. She went on to work at the State Hospital in the early 80s & that's where she met the love of her life, Tim Lingar, they married in 1990 & have been inseparable since going on numerous vacations & trips to the Smoky Mountains & camping. She also took care of her Mom, Neva staying at her side until she passed in 2019 at 101 years young.

Melissa loved her family so much and her pride & joy were her grandkids. She never missed anything when it came to them. She was their biggest fan & she loved going to their wrestling events & cheering louder than anyone in the gym. She loved & supported all the Centerville Bulldog wrestling teams throughout the years. Her grandkids & daughter were her pride & joy.

Melissa devoted her life to working at Head Start since 1986 retiring in 2021. She started out as a Health & Disability Coordinator & worked her way to Director of Head Start, she also became Director of CAECI. She also wrote grants & oversaw the design & start-up of The Mapleton Child Development Center as well as the re-opening of Townsend Center. She paved the way for thousands of students. She also helped open Early Head Start, to help pregnant women & children up to the age of 3. She was blunt and didn't sugarcoat anything & showed tough love.

She is preceded in death by her mother & father, Neva & Archie McCown, and her brother Warren Delbert McCown & sister Mai-Lin McCown. She is survived by her loving husband, Tim Lingar her daughter Scheleta (Brian) along with their children JaVon (Katie), Elijah, Gabreyel, Oshea, Tzuriya & Tziyon Phillips, her brother, Mark (Bonnie) & a special niece Briena McCown, as well as a host of nieces & nephews. She also leaves behind two special "sisters" Terri Francis & Darlene Christmon -Washington & special friends, Marquita Clemons & Kayla Adams.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 P.M. Friday, May 5, 2023, at Stegall-Berheide-Orr Funeral Home with Minister Mike Day officiating. Friends may call from 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be given to the family to help defray expenses. Online condolences may be sent to the family via the guest book at stegallberheideorr.com.