Melisa Teischy Holmes

Melisa Holmes, 52, of Poulsbo, Washington, passed away on January 17, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer. 

Melisa Teischy Toy was born on November 13, 1972, in Hollywood, California. She was the first child of Steve and Vickie Toy and was truly the apple of their eyes. As the first grandchild and niece on both sides of the family, Melisa was adored by both sets of grandparents, a special great-aunt, and all of her uncles. These cherished relationships continued throughout their lives, largely because of Melisa’s commitment to nurturing them and the deep heritage she embraced, with both pioneer roots in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jewish ancestry. 

Melisa’s childhood was spent in California and Colorado as the Toy family, which eventually grew to eight children, moved around chasing her father’s educational and professional pursuits. 

In 1984, the Toy family moved to Shelley, Idaho. Three years later, the family was in a car accident that took the life of her mother, Vickie Jolley Toy. This was a pivotal moment, as they deeply felt her absence. Vickie’s final testimony of the eternal nature of families was strengthening to her husband and children and is now again a strengthening point during this time of sorrow for Melisa’s family. 

Melisa attended Shelley schools, where she participated in cheerleading and volleyball in junior high and Topperettes drill team in high school. She graduated from Shelley High School in 1990. She studied at Ricks College and Utah State University, where she was on the clogging team, worked on their school newspapers, The Scroll and The Statesman, and earned a degree in journalism. Melisa was an extraordinarily hard worker and sharp thinker, willing to put forth the effort needed to get what she wanted out of life. 

While at Ricks College, Melisa met the love of her life, William Blake Holmes. They were married in 1995 in Shelley, Idaho, and sealed for time and eternity in the Portland, Oregon Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Blake and Melisa began their life together in Ogden, Utah. Melisa worked as a copy editor for the Standard-Examiner and then as the Director of Development and Communication for Weber State University. Melisa was an incredibly gifted writer and communicator; these talents proved valuable in her professional, personal, and service endeavors.

Blake and Melisa loved to adventure together and perfectly balanced each other’s personalities. With the energy of a teenager, Melisa always had a plan brewing for their next adventure. 

Their greatest adventure, though, was welcoming their six incredible children: Grace, Cache, Jonah, Mason, Anna, and Miriam. The Holmes family moved to Washington in 2002, just after their second child was born. They took over Blake’s dad’s business, Olympic Excavating, which allowed Melisa to be at home with their young children. 

Being a mom was more than a role for Melisa; it was her calling, purpose, and deepest passion. She went to great lengths to make moments and memories special for her kids from the time they were babies, planning fantastic field trips, birthday parties, and vacations, sometimes on a very tight budget. Remarkably, Melisa had a gift for making her children’s interests her own. If one of them was playing football, she became a dedicated football fan, learning the rules, watching the games, and being the loudest voice in the cheering section. She took on the role of teacher when homeschooling was the right path for one of her children. She was her children’s fiercest advocate, always doing whatever it took to help them succeed. 

As the kids began to grow into young adults, Melisa encouraged them to chase their dreams. Even after being diagnosed with stage four cancer, she made the conscious decision to encourage them to move forward with their goals and life plans. She sent three sons on two-year church missions during this challenging time because she loved them and God enough to sacrifice what was now a commodity and what she valued most: time with her family. 

Melisa was the glue of her extended family. She insisted on family gatherings and worked hard to develop a close bond and true friendship with all her siblings, step- siblings, in-laws, nieces, and nephews. She was known for taking photos of every moment to remember the special times together. 

Melisa found joy in service. She held many callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, including president of the young women’s youth organization, stake director of public affairs, and assistant director of a youth dance festival at the Tacoma Dome celebrating the sesquicentennial of the Mormon Pioneers arriving in Utah. 

In her community, Melisa poured her heart and PR and event-planning skills into organizing the “Positive Fight Mode for Ian” campaign when her dear friend’s son was battling cancer. Most recently, she prepared dozens of Christmas gifts for her missionary sons to distribute to children where they are serving. Whatever Melisa decided to do, she did it 100% with complete attention to detail and with love.

Melisa is survived by her devoted husband Blake and her six beautiful children Grace, Cache, Jonah, Mason, Anna, and Miriam, her siblings Shayndel Smith, David (Joanna) Toy, Sarah (Travis) Dean, Timothy (Nancy) Toy, Joshua (Miriam) Toy, Emily (Bryan) Buckley, and Miriam (Chad Wessel) Jensen, her stepmother Elizabeth Toy, step-siblings Liza (Mark) Evans, Chris (Eve) Bryant, Kim (Tyler) Welch, and Tolman (Audrey) Bryant, her father-in-law Dick Holmes, her uncle Rick Toy, and many brothers- and sisters-in-law and adoring nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Steve and Vickie (Jolley) Toy, her beloved mother-in-law Margaret Holmes, brother-in-law Ryan Smith and sister-in-law Donna King, grandparents George and Annette Toy and Victor and Eleanore Jolley, great aunt Mildred Cotner, and uncles Paul Towman, Michael Towman, Bradley Toy, and James Jolley. We take joy in imagining the reunion they are having in heaven. 

Funeral services for Melisa will take place on Saturday, January 25, at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (2138 NE Mesford Road, Poulsbo).

Services will be streamed here: https://youtube.com/@poulsbo2ndward907?feature=shared. The interment will be made in Port Blakely Cemetery, Bainbridge Island, Washington.