1938
Melodie
2019
Melodie Carroll Sackett
June 22, 1938 — December 8, 2019
Melodie was born in 1938 in Oskaloosa, Iowa and grew up in Denver, Colorado. She was raised in the Christian faith by her loving parents, Raymond and Genevieve Carroll. Melodie was the baby of the family, with four older siblings: Stan, Peggy, Bev, and James. After graduating with a degree in nursing from the University of Colorado, Melodie moved to Washington, D.C. where she met Dick while leading a songfest together in church. The two were virtually inseparable throughout their marriage. They cherished each other, and together served the Lord by welcoming friends new and old into their home, as well as into their church home.
Melodie served her heavenly Father with great energy and joy. With her ever-present smile, Melodie befriended people easily, and was quick to offer prayer, a word of encouragement, or a scripture passage to acquaintances and friends alike. She was a natural gatherer, and used her gifts of hospitality to encourage people from varied walks of life. Melodie and Dick forged strong friendships through their shared love of music and singing.
Melodie nurtured her children in the faith through prayer, scripture, and worshipful participation in the life of the church. Her children - Rick, Julianne, and Geoff - and grandchildren - Emily, Will, Lauren, Christian, Phoebe, Jonathan, Maggie, Caleb, and Anna - give thanks to God for their wonderful mother and grandmother. ~ written by Geoff Sackett
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My mother, or Melodie as most knew her, was born Merrie Melodie Carroll on a bright, warm summer’s day. On June 22nd, 1938 in Oskaloosa, Iowa – the fifth child of Raymond James (RJ) and Genevieve Carroll came into the world. Yes, her parents had a sense of humor. Warner Bros. had begun producing Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies during the golden age of American animation in 1931, and her folks took notice. So by ’38, it must have made good sense to them to give their daughter such a fun and happy moniker. Merrie was their last child, and so, was baby sister to Stanley, Peggy, Beverlee and James. Her father RJ was principal and then superintendent of schools in Iowa and then Colorado, had his Master of Divinity and was active in the Methodist church, and was a business leader and insurance salesman in later years. He was firm and strict, but also tired by the time Merrie was growing up, so she enjoyed a more relaxed parenting approach from him and her mother. She would recall fondly that her father would share a bowl of ice cream with her every night and give her a ride to school every morning – as long as she was ready when he was leaving! Her mother was a homemaker and tinkerer who could fix anything (while whistling happily) and could sew, knit and crochet beautiful creations.
Young Merrie was always a hard worker with a positive outlook and caring heart. While she was a tomboy who enjoyed outdoor activities like climbing trees and shooting grapes from her rifle at her sisters’ dates, she also loved children and caregiving, and began babysitting at a young age. As you can imagine, a name like Merrie Melodie Carroll garnered some attention. Kids would tease her and say, “You have three first names. What’s your last name?” So at some point in school she decided that dropping the Merrie and going by Melodie was a better idea. True to her name, Melodie loved to sing. In her youth, she attended many church camps of all denominations and the songs and spirituals stuck in her heart and head. Songs like “The B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the Book for me”, “Michael Row Your Boat Ashore”, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and “Give Me Oil in My Lamp”.
Melodie loved music, and had expressed interest in playing a brass or woodwind instrument early on...but her father didn’t want her to “distort her mouth” (I guess he was thinking cheeks like Dizzie Gillespie?). Anyway, so as not to go against her father’s wishes, she picked up the snare drum and joined the marching band at Sterling High School with great spirit. A highlight of her time in the band was travelling across the country to Washington, DC to perform for President Eisenhauer. It was a dream come true, since Merrie had aspired to be Eisenhauer’s secretary one day, and felt this could give her an important “in” with the President. While this vocation did not come to pass, it did pave the way for Melodie’s eventual move to DC, which proved poignant for many reasons. After high school, Melodie pursued a career in nursing and graduated from University of Colorado at Boulder in 1960 in a class of 119.
She put her skills and gifts to immediate use when her sister’s husband passed away suddenly, leaving three young children and a busy grieving single mom. Melodie jumped in to spend significant time with Peggy’s active and adorable children – playing, reading, singing and just being together. Melodie moved east shortly thereafter, following her brother James to the Midatlantic region. Her intent was to couple her faith and skills to pursue medical missions, but those plans were seemingly cut short when she met Richard Sackett after hearing him sing and play his ukulele in church. She approached him afterward to tell him what a nice voice he had and they made beautiful music together from that point forward. They married in 1966. Mom worked as a public health and school nurse early on, and then stayed at home once young Ricky, Julianne and Geoffrey came along. Dad soon after began his career with the Federal Government, allowing Mom to stay home with us and start a playgroup. This snowballed over the ensuing years into a full blown home daycare, which Mom continued for over thirty years. How inspiring to have had a mother who ran a thriving woman-owned home business before it was really even a thing. I recall her banging out contracts on our old Smith-Corona typewriter and adding stipulations for vacation time and late fees. She touched so many lives during her tenure as a home day care provider, combining her gifts and skills into a thriving Bethesda-based service for working parents.
Throughout those years, hundreds of young children were loved, cared for, fed, napped, sung to, hugged, cuddled, burped, walked and strolled. I cannot begin to say how many party hats were worn, tears were wiped, goldfish were served or diapers were changed. Despite working a demanding full time job, Mom still kept an immaculate house, prepared our lunches every day, made a square meal from scratch for dinner every night, drove us to countless activities in the evening, and even came to read stories aloud to our classes and (with daycare kids in tow) attended our field days at school to cheer us on.
Family was important to Mom. We spent a fair amount of time visiting (and hosting) extended family including our Kutztown, Pennsylvania cousins and aunt and uncle as well as traversing the country in the big blue Matador station wagon to visit Grammy, Peggy and the western contingent in Colorado - tent camping along the way.
We also enjoyed fun times in Bethesda playing games, swimming in the pool, and entertaining all sorts of social groups. I have a distinct memory of high school when Mom’s beloved Broncos were playing the Redskins in the Super Bowl. I’ve never heard her hoot and holler so much in my life! It was fun to see her enjoying that so much while the Lipton onion soup dip and Utz potato chips flowed.
Mom also had many friends. We spent countless holidays and other special occasions with close family friends. The Coes, Samuels, Porters, Hochstetlers and more were all the regular cast of characters at our home, and we theirs. Happy times were spent with good company, delicious food, laughter, stories and songs.
Side note about laughter. Mom had a unique laugh: rollicking, hearty and unselfconscious. She loved to laugh and it happened often when enjoying times with friends and family - especially her siblings. I miss it! But I’m told (and would like to believe) that maybe a teensy bit of that lives on in me.
In addition to strong friendships, Mom also never met a stranger. She was warm and welcoming to every soul she encountered, and she especially gravitated toward those who were alone or seemingly in need. She put great energy into serving others with these gifts.
Melodie had a vibrant and living faith from early on, and put it into action in countless ways - not only by serving her immediate family, but also her church family and beyond. Mom was involved in various ministries such as choir, handbells, the Inner City Task Force, and Missions of all kinds. She served as a church greeter for many years and a significant number of people will attest that Melodie was the first smile and hug they received when walking through Fourth’s doors. That was usually followed by Mom introducing the visitor to the dozen or so people in the immediate vicinity. She loved welcoming and connecting people. She and Dad also supported many missionaries financially and with a place of respite and fun (and swimming!) when they returned to the states on furlough. Her final role was as a Deacon, being the hands and feet of Christ’s love to those in need. It was a perfect fit.
Speaking of perfect fits, Melodie and Dick enjoyed a most harmonious and fruitful marriage, for forty six years, until his death. Melodie Bird and Dickie Bear as they called one another (yes, I know... I feel it’s safe to tell you that now) shared a wonderful love. It was respectful and considerate - a true partnership. Yet that spark never left, so much to our chagrin as teenagers, they wouldn’t hesitate to show affection in our presence. They genuinely enjoyed one another’s company, and it showed. As corny as it may sound, they sang together on road trips and played Gin Rummy almost every night. Dad helped with the day care and Mom helped with Dad’s musical gigs. They spent the majority of their time together. Dad would sometimes say that he was black and white, and Mom was Technicolor. They had copious good years together until Dad became ill. Even then, Mom lovingly cared for Dad for ten years in a sweet and selfless way. She never complained or had a harsh word. Call it Pollyanna if you want, but it was genuine and beautiful.
I am so grateful to have had Merrie Melodie Carroll Sackett for a mother. She was a great gift to me, and many others. After a long and difficult journey with Alzheimer’s, she is finally free, whole, and rejoicing. She ran the race with grace and is now Home.
~ Written by Julianne Carroll Sackett DuBois
I am reminded of a befitting hymn
BY ELTON ROTH
“I have a song that Jesus gave me,
It was sent from heav'n above;
There never was a sweeter melody,
'tis a melody of love.
In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody with heaven's harmony;
In my heart there rings a melody;
There rings a melody of love.
I love the Christ who died on Calv'ry,
For He washed my sins away;
He put within my heart a melody,
And I know it's there to stay.
'Twill be my endless theme in glory,
With the angels I will sing;
'Twill be a song with glorious harmony,
When the courts of heaven ring.
In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody with heaven's harmony;
In my heart there rings a melody;
There rings a melody of love.”
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Saturday, December 14, 2019
Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)
Fourth Presbyterian Church
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