May 8, 1972 - June 12, 2016

Melanie Joy Cavazos, 44, of Midland, passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Midland. There will be a private family service.

Melanie was born on May 8, 1972 in Santa Ana, California to Lyn and Jack Dillard. Melanie grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and graduated high school from W. T. Sampson in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. While attending Tarleton State University, she had her first child Micah and earned a Bachelor’s of Science and her teaching degree. Upon moving to West Texas she began teaching and earned her Master’s Degree in Education and Counseling. She worked for the Midland School district for 21 years and served on the board for Mission Agape helping feed and support those in need. In 2002 she married Vidal and in 2006 they brought home their daughter Kaitlyn. Melanie loved to work in her backyard garden, swim and camp. She enjoyed performing for the Midland community theater. She loved animals and always had many critters living in her home. She was always a free-spirit attempting to change the world!

She is survived by her husband, Vidal Cavazos; parents, Linda (Dummann) and Jack Dillard; sister, Lori (Dillard) Leak and her children, Haiden and Liam; brother, Robert Dillard; children, Micah Daniel, Zachary Cavazos and Kaitlyn Cavazos; andGrandparents, Estalene Dillard and Henry and Lois Dummann.

She is preceded in death by grandfather, Wesley Dillard; mother-in-law, Elida Cavazos and sister-in-law, Maria Uvalle.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be donated to Mission Agape PO Box 3419, Midland, TX.