QUENEMO, Kan. – Melissa Dawn Shields, 45, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2025, at Advent Health, Ottawa, Kan. She was born Sept. 28, 1979, in Ottawa, the daughter of James and Donna (Green) Meek.
Melissa had lived most of her life in the Quenemo community. She graduated from Marias des Cygnes Valley High School in 1997.
Melissa worked as a waitress in high school and college, worked for Grapevine Internet as a tech rep and several years at Marais des Cygnes Valley Elementary School. She had started as a para with Three Lakes, and then became the librarian and IT technician for the school. She had been a volunteer firefighter and worked with Osage County Emergency Management. She was a member of the Quenemo United Methodist Church, and always helped with the Quenemo Penny Suppers.
On Dec. 19, 2004, Melissa was united in marriage to Paul Shields, at Michigan Valley Community Church.
Melissa was preceded in death by her parents, James and Donna.
Melissa is survived by her husband, Paul, of 20 years; son, Joshua Shields, Herington, Kan.; stepdaughter, April Shields; brother, Jim Meek, Spring Hill; and sister, Dee Dinkle, of Independence, Mo.
Funeral services for Melissa will be 11 a.m. Friday, April 18, at Feltner Funeral Chapel, Lyndon, Kan. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery, Quenemo. The family will receive friends 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions can be made to Marais des Cygnes Valley Elementary School, sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Ave., Lyndon, KS 66451. Condolences can be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com.
