Jean Lorraine Mellish was born on August 4, 1962 in Williams Lake.
Jean was the eldest child of Earl and Kay Mellish and sister to Michael and Maureen.
Other than attending Grade 1 in Prince George, Jean grew up in Williams Lake attending Crescent Heights elementary, Williams Lake junior secondary, and Columneetza senior secondary schools.
While in high school, Jean worked as a waitress/carhop at the Dog N Suds Restaurant.
In 1980 Jean decided to further her education and headed off to Kamloops to attend business school at Cariboo College.
After college, Jean returned to Williams Lake and obtained employment at the Ministry of Forests. She then moved on to Social Services, where she made many life-long friends.
Jean loved to travel and visited many places including London, Paris, Mexico, California, B.C., Alberta, and eastern Canada.
In 1991, Jean met Chris Mitchell. They lived in Williams Lake for a short time, then moved on to Prince George where their children Kallie Drew and Tanner Reese were born.
In September 1999, Jean was diagnosed with breast cancer. Jean always remained very positive and optimistic that she would be one of those people who survived this disease.
In February 2000, Jean moved to Okotoks, Alberta to join Chris who had moved there for work. She continued to battle her cancer. Sadly, Jean’s fight ended on May 21, 2002.
Children were always an important part of Jean’s life and she found great pleasure in being involved with her nieces, nephews, god daughters and friends’ children.
She was also a very loving stepmother. Jean’s greatest joy, however, was her two beautiful children; Kallie and Tanner, whom she cherished and adored.
Jean is survived by her husband Chris Mitchell; their children Kallie and Tanner; grandma Louise Rabie of Salmon Arm; mom and dad, Kay and Earl Mellish of Williams Lake; brother, Mike Mellish of Calgary, Alberta; sister Maureen (Dan) Reinitz of Prince George; step sons, Trevor and Kyle Mitchell of North Bay, Ontario; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
A trust fund has been established for Jean’s children by her co-workers at the Ministry of Social Services. Anyone wishing to donate in Jean’s memory may do so through the Kallie and Tanner Mitchell Trust c/o Maureen Reinitz, 246-5130 North Nechako Road, Prince George, B.C. at V2K-4W2.