Melissa Dawn (Elliott) Kennedy

Hastings resident Melissa Dawn (Elliott) Kennedy, 54, passed away Monday, January 23, 2023, at Mary Lanning Healthcare, Hastings, NE with loved ones at her bedside while battling cancer.   

Memorial Service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 1, at Butler Volland Chapel in Hastings with Chaplain John Mueller officiating. Burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. There will be no viewing or visitation. A book signing will be one hour before the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the family. The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Melissa’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lbvfh.com. Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home & Cremation Center is serving the family.

Melissa was born October 15, 1968, to Michael Henry Elliott & Diana Joyce (Patterson) Powell in Hastings, NE. Melissa attended Hastings Sr. High School Class of 1987. She married Gary Wayne Kennedy on April 16, 1986. Melissa worked for the Omaha World-Herald and Hastings Tribune Delivering Papers for years, then went on to work at The Odyssey Downtown since 2017. She loved Bingo, working with her class reunion group, family, friends, and her animals.

Melissa was preceded in death by her parents; step-father, Lloyd Dale Powell, Jr.; husband, Gary Wayne Kennedy; and great-niece, Emilly Dee Kennedy.

SURVIVORS:
Daughter & Spouse:              
    Sara & Brent Hassler - Omaha, NE
Sons & Spouses:                    
    Sam Kennedy & Jessica Acevedo - Red Cloud, NE
    Sheldon Kennedy - Hastings, NE
    Spencer Kennedy & Kenzie Underwood - Hastings, NE
Sisters & Spouses:                 
    Michelle Elliott - Hastings, NE
    Melinda & Richard Francis - Hastings, NE
    Amanda & Dallas Roberts - Caldwell, ID
    Ashley Elliott & Josh Hall - Benton City, WA
Brothers & Spouses:              
    Shane & Crystal Elliott - Benton City, WA
    Cody Elliott - Benton City, WA
    Kyle Elliott - Benton City, WA
    Clayne Cox & Hadden Evanson - Benton City, WA
Brothers-in-law & Spouses: 
    Paul & Monica Kennedy - Hastings, NE
    Mike & Joanna Kennedy - Hastings, NE
    Jeff Kennedy - Hastings, NE
    John & Bridget Kennedy - Warsaw, MO
Sisters-in-law & Spouses:     
    Sheila Kennedy - Hastings, NE
    Michelle & James Wilson - N. Richland Hills, TX
Grandchildren:                      
    Jasmine Hassler - Omaha, NE
    Brayden Hassler - Omaha, NE
    Devon Summers - Hastings, NE
    Houston Acevedo - Red Cloud, NE
    Matilda Kennedy - Red Cloud, NE
    Titus Hedrick - Lexington, NE
    Malachi Hedrick - Lexington, NE
Great-Grandchild:                 
    Damain Woods - Hastings, NE
Nieces & Nephews:               
    16 in Nebraska
    9 in Washington
    2 in Idaho
    2 in Texas
    2 in Missouri
    1 in Florida
20 Great-Nieces & Great-Nephews and many friends