Melissa Kay Hammer, age 49, of Colony, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at home where she lived with her parents, Lavon and Lynn (Cochran) Hammer. Melissa was born January 12, 1968 at the Allen County Hospital in Iola, Kansas. Melissa graduated from Iola High School, Allen County Community College, and Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas. She was recognized as a Who's Who of American High School Students, Community College Students, and University Students. She also won many other scholastic awards. Melissa earned her Master's Degree in Theology from Nazarene Seminary of Kansas City, Missouri. Melissa loved her job as head of the Children's Editorial Department at Nazarene International Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri. She lived in Belton, Missouri following school until she lost her eyesight and moved back home in 2014. She is survived by her parents, Lavon and Lynn Hammer of Colony; her sister, DeDe Hammer of Lenexa; two brothers, Tom Hammer of rural Iola, and Jason Hammer and wife, Tabitha of Colony, Kansas; her grandmother, Rose Marie Cochran of Iola; numerous aunts and uncles and cousins; four nephews, Christopher Cheung of Kansas City, Missouri, Brendon and Noah Hammer of Colony, Kansas, and Austin Hammer and his wife and son; and two nieces, Kailyn and Hailey Hammer. Melissa was preceded in death by her grandfather, C.L. "Bud" Cochran, and her grandparents Willard and Agnes Hammer, and Cordia and Orville VanWinkle. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, August 10, 2017 at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, 16 N. Buckeye, Iola, Kansas. Burial will follow in the Highland Cemetery, Iola. The family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and may be left with the funeral home. Condolences may be left at www.feuerbornfuneral.com.