Melissa Jane Painter-Smith, age 41, of Mabscott, formerly of Pax, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008, after a three-and-half-month courageous battle with cancer. Born March 29, 1967, in Beckley, Melissa was the daughter of Versa E. Painter of Pax and the late Junior Calvin (JC) Painter, who died July 4, 1974. Melissa enjoyed spending time with her children, family and friends. She attended the Long Branch United Methodist Church, with her children and mother. Melissa, who graduated from Mount Hope High School in 1985 with honors, was a deputy clerk in the real estate division of the Raleigh County Assessor’s Office in Beckley. In the past, she had worked in the motel industry in Beckley, Norfolk, Va., and Jacksonville, N.C., and also in banking in Maryland and Mechanicsburg, Pa. In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by her grandparents, Amos and Virgie Mae Hurd, formerly of Mount Hope, and Maggie Painter of Pax, and several paternal and maternal aunts and uncles. Those left to cherish her memory include her mother, Versa E. Painter of Pax; one son, Chase Calvin, 10, and two daughters, Hailey Nicole, 7 1/2, and Morgan Skylar, 6, all at home; three dear sisters, Judith A. (Judy) Karbonit and husband, Charles (Charlie), of Beckley; Janice Kay Davis and husband, Patrick (Pat), of Pax, and Vickie Lynn Bowyer and husband, Jerry, of Cirtsville; one special brother, James Calvin “Jamie” Painter and Teresa of Pax; her former husband, the father of her children and special friend, Wesley R. Smith of Beckley, a special uncle and aunt, Harry and Joyce Hurd Edmonds of Berryville, Va.; her uncle and aunt, Newt T. and Clara Hurd and family of Woodstock, Va.; aunt, Navada Angle and family of Stokesbury; special nieces and nephews: Jenna Courtney Karbonit of Beckley and her fiance, Matthew J. (Matt) Roop of Charleston; Kim Kincaid and husband, Danny, and family, Derek, Geoffrey and Hannah of Crab Orchard; Brandi Morgan and husband, Brian (Pat), and family, Andrew and Dylan of Fairdale; Jerry Wayne Bowyer and wife, Tiffany, and family, Gray and Emma of Prosperity; Kristy Lynn Wright and husband, Mark, and daughter, Katelyn, of Nashville, Tenn.; Ce Ce and Nick Thompson of Pax; cousins John and Diane Lewis of Sparr, Fla.; a special brother-in-law, Walter Smith and wife, Becky, and family of Oak Hill; a host of special maternal and paternal nieces, nephews and cousins and friends including Libby, Kassie and Lisa, and her extra special co-workers, all of whom have been like family. Services will be 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, at Blue Ridge Funeral Home Chapel in Beckley with the Revs. Sam Vance and Danny Kincaid officiating. Andrew Floyd, great-nephew, will do a prayer. Burial with graveside rites will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens. Friends may gather with the family from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Derek Kincaid, Geoffrey Kincaid, Andrew Floyd, Jerry Wayne Bowyer, Pat Morgan, Matt Roop, John Lewis and Jack (Jay) Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Pat Davis, Charlie Karbonit, Jerry Bowyer, John Lovelace, Richie Hurlocker and Walter Smith.