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Leah Meldrum

February 17, 1957 - June 27, 2015
Allendale, MI

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Visitation

Tuesday, June 30, 2015
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Visitation

Tuesday, June 30, 2015
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Service

Wednesday, July 1, 2015
11:00 AM EDT
Standale Baptist Church
3714 Lake Michigan Drive NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49534

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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All who knew Leah Meldrum would agree that there was no one who met her and left unchanged. She was thoughtful, kindhearted, and generous, and when it came to her family she was selfless in every way. A loving wife and devoted mother, Leah loved becoming a grandmother, and it was with her loved ones near that she was truly happy. Leah was never one to worry about building wealth or gaining possessions, rather, her focus was on living fully in each and every moment she was given. Although life will never be the same without her here, Leah’s timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

It seems only fitting that Leah’s journey began during a time that was as colorful as she was. It was the 1950s when blue jeans became part of our wardrobes, James Dean made young girls swoon on the silver screen, and Elvis was king. Amidst this eventful time was a time of great excitement in the lives of Raymond and Lucille (Cowell) Miller as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as winter held the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan, firmly in its grip in February of 1957. Their wait was over when the baby girl they named Leah Marie, born on February 17. She was the fifth of six children, and it was quite a day to remember on the day she was born since it was also her sister Lonna's 10th birthday that day. The two sisters were always very close, and Leah looked up to her.

For the most part, Leah experienced an upbringing that was fairly typical for the youth of her generation. She was raised in the family home in the Kenowa Hills area on the Northwest side of Grand Rapids. With three older brothers, there were plenty of rough times spent playing football and other sports. Leah was always very athletic and it could be a bit of an understatement to say that she was competitive. She loved playing outside and had a pet goat, Heidi. Leah attended several local schools in Kenowa Hills and eventually ended up at Walker Junior High and then Kenowa Hills High School. As a fifth grader she spent the summer in Guatemala with her teacher, and she always excelled in her studies. Leah, her parents, and her younger sister moved to Winston Salem, North Carolina, where Leah finished her senior year of high school at North Forsyth High School. Her older siblings remained in Michigan. This was a difficult move for her, and she always considered herself to be part of the graduating class from Kenowa Hills. Leah then attended Bob Jones University for a couple of years.

Soon after, Leah married and had two children, Lindsay and Lauren. She raised her girls in North Carolina while also working at a bank and waiting tables. When her marriage ended, Leah moved to Florida to be near her sister. She remarried in 1989. Because her husband was in the military, they moved to Louisiana for a few years before returning to North Carolina to be near her parents. It was in Lousiana, that Jose was born. Her marriage eventually ended, but Leah spent the next 10 years in North Carolina, raising her kids.

Life was forever changed for Leah when she was attending her 25th class reunion from Kenowa Hills High School. It was while there that she took notice of a fellow classmate, Vince Meldrum. They began dating, and in 2001 they were married. Leah and her children moved back to Michigan where she also accepted Vince's children, Lacey and Cody, into her life, giving them a family with five children altogether. Her greatest joy was found in being with her family including with her extended family. Leah’s love was never distinguished by blood relation, she loved her step children and sons-in-law as her own children and gave them all the same devotion.

Leah was the one to encourage and host family gatherings as she has been called the glue that held everyone together. She had a spacious yard that made her place perfect for large groups. Leah was an amazing mother who wanted her children to be active. She encouraged them to participate in sports and coached Jose early on in soccer and then faithfully watched him as his ability grew. She traveled the country to watch him no matter the weather, and she was happy to be there, too. Leah always set up a chair, but she was rarely in it as she was more commonly coaching from the sidelines! She also loved playing games with her kids, especially ones she knew she could win! It has been said that Leah gave new meaning to being competitive as she was even competitive about being competitive!

In addition to caring for her family, Leah enjoyed working. She started as an office manager at a construction company, and she later became vice president of Todd Isenhour Homes. This was a great fit as Leah was smart and personable. She also continued her schooling and became licensed in real estate. Leah enjoyed her work and liked the challenge of being busy. In Michigan she spent 12 years working as a legal secretary at McShane and Bowie, a real estate law firm, and most recently for Meritage Hospitality Group.

Throughout her life Leah was always busy. She was an avid reader who often had several books going at one time. Leah loved jigsaw puzzles and games, of course, whether board games or card games. She did some cross-stitch and later quilted blankets for each of her grandchildren. Leah was excited to welcome all of her grandchildren into this world and deeply loved each of them. Leah always made sure that every other person was cared for before thinking of herself. She was a fantastic cook who tried nearly every recipe in each cookbook. Leah donated blood and plasma over the years and even gave to others in her death.

This past January, Leah and her loved ones were crushed to receive word that she was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer. She fought valiantly and never let her spirits down as she wrote these words, “ My soul and spirit are alive and well. My body is a vessel, not my person. I will continue to love, live, laugh, explore, have adventure, give, pray, worship and enjoy the moment.”

Friendly, welcoming, generous, and hospitable, Leah Meldrum was a blessing to everyone she met. She was bubbly, social, outgoing, and the sort of person who never met a stranger. Leah had a great sense of humor and remained positive throughout her entire life. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Leah M. Meldrum, age 58 of Allendale, passed away June 27, 2015. She was preceded in death by her father Raymond Miller. Leah will be greatly missed by her husband, Vince; children (and grandchildren) Lindsay & Jared Mecham (Seth, Dylan, Lyric), Lauren & Chris Morse (Zane, Conan), Lacey & Terry Woodwyk, Jose Guillan, Cody Meldrum; her mother, Lucille Miller; brothers and sisters Lonna Miller Reynolds, Ray (Cindy) Miller, Randy (Sue) Miller, Rex (Shawn) Miller, Linda (Jim) Boyd; mother-in-law, Joyce Meldrum, as well as many friends.

A service to remember and celebrate Leah's life will be held on Wednesday, July 1 2015 at 11 AM at Standale Baptist Church. Interment in Washington Park Memorial Gardens. Friends are invited to visit with Leah's family on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. For those who wish, memorial contributions to Van Andel Institute for Breast Cancer Research are appreciated. To read more about Leah's life, to share a favorite memory or to sign her register book, please visit www.lifestorynet.com

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