Melanie Lynn Featherstone

Melanie Lynn Featherstone, 41, beloved wife of Chris Johnson, left her earthly life to be reunited with her Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, January 14th 2021 after a courageous battle with COVID–19. 

Melanie came into this world in a flurry of excitement on March 31st 1979, the 3rd child born to Teresa Castolene and Bill Featherstone. It would prove fitting that Melanie would make an enthusiastic entrance, she was full of zeal to make her mark on the world, and she did. 

Melanie began dance lessons at age 3 and twirled her way through her youth with beautiful, bouncing curls. She competed with the STARS dance company and was a member of the Woods Cross High School drill team where she graduated in 1997. She continued to dance at Southern Utah University, and discovered a passion for ballroom dancing. Melanie loved to dance! Mel’s years at SUU were among the happiest of her life. She was a member of student government and became a member and Vice President of Alpha Phi Sorority where she was excited about and heavily involved in philanthropy. This love for helping others would become a cornerstone of Melanie’s professional and personal life. 

Melanie began her professional career with Marriott in event planning, using her Communication and Marketing degree earned from SUU in 2001. She then went to work for American Red Cross as a donor recruiter. Melanie was enthusiastic about the importance of blood donation and saving lives and spread that enthusiasm to all she met. She enjoyed volunteering as an American Red Cross Ambassador for the Special Olympics and helping Boy Scouts with blood drives. She was instrumental in helping over 40 Boy Scouts with their Eagle Projects. 

Melanie met Chris, the love of her life, in December of 2009 and they were married on September 18, 2010. Melanie adored Chris and the life they made together. They loved taking road trips and walks in the park with their fur babies Youki and Sophie, eating seafood, going to the beach and laughing together. They shared a deep and devoted love for Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. Chris was a loving and faithful husband. He took extraordinary care of Melly and loved her without measure. 

Melanie loved to travel! She liked to reminisce about places she had been, especially the trip she and her mother took to Europe. Mel loved the tulip fields in Amsterdam, Notting Hill in London, and the Eifel Tower in Paris. Mel enjoyed a trip to Ecuador and summer vacations to Laguna Beach, California and Island Park, Idaho, but her favorite place to visit was Disneyland. 

Mel was brave and she was a fighter. She was feisty and funny but at heart, a girly girl. She liked sparkle and bling and she loved pink! She appreciated a beautiful scarf and kitten heels and always had animal print flats and a pretty handbag. She enjoyed fancy food, sparkling water, and diet coke with lime. She loved Michael Bublé, surprises, and Broadway musicals – especially Wicked! She was fond of lilies and wildflowers and all things Parisian. She liked a silly joke, rollercoasters, and to snuggle up and watch a romantic show. She preferred nothing more than girl time with her sisters and nieces, who along with her nephews were her sunshine. 

Melanie was dearly loved by her husband Christopher Michael Johnson; parents Teresa and Jeff Castolene and William and Sheryl Featherstone; sisters Trisha (John) Newby, Cindi (Doug) Farnsworth and Kaitlynn Castolene; nieces Shelby (Everett) Straley, Emma (Logan) Cherrington, Sarah (Hunter) Haddon, and Chloe Newby; nephews Carson Dobias and Tyson Farnsworth; grandnephew and niece Graham and Maggie Straley; grandmother Dortha McStay and many uncles, aunts and cousins. Melanie is also survived by the Johnson family who loved and cared for her very much. Mike and Ginger Johnson, Ryan (Chantel) Spencer, Devon Pinales and nieces Amelia and Tara. Melanie was proceeded in death by grandparents Howard and Rose Featherstone and Robert McStay; cousins Adam Hitesman and Russell Larsen; and brother Rick Featherstone. How happy we are she is reunited with her brother! 

A private family viewing will be held. We invite friends and family with their masks to the graveside service Wednesday, January 20th at 1 p.m. at Bountiful City Cemetery, 2224 South 200 West, Bountiful Utah. Graveside services will also be live streamed on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page beginning at 12:55 p.m. 

The family would like to the thank the medical team and staff at University of Utah Hospital for their impeccable kind and compassionate care of Melanie. 

In honor of Melanie, please wear a mask, consider the COVID–19 vaccine, and hug your loved ones close.