Melony Christine Guerrero

Melony Christine Busk Guerrero
Richfield, Utah

Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, Melony Christine Busk Guerrero, passed on to return to her Father in Heaven on September 5, 2024 at home after a valiant life of physical struggle, and of emotional and spiritual delights.

Melony was born on April 26, 1949 in Richfield, Utah to Jewell Albert Busk and Carol Lydia Vail. She lived for a time in nearby Elsinore and attended Elsinore Elementary School. The family moved to Richfield where she attended Richfield Elementary School and Richfield Junior High School. She grew to adulthood and graduated from Richfield High School in 1967. Melony attended Utah State University and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a Certificate in Special Education. She taught special education in Utah and Montana, and was employed in organizations that served adult literacy and the developmentally handicapped. She was a court appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer in Cedar City, Utah serving foster children.

Melony married Dennis W. Murphy in 1971 and they were blessed with a daughter, Kjerstina (Stina) Vail Murphy in Logan, Utah. They divorced in 1980. Melony began a courtship of love and adventure with Carlos Guerrero and they were married in 1981 in Logan. Carlos’ daughter Rachel Star Guerrero joined Stina snuggling under Melony’s wing and they became a family—she never liked the term “step-child”; she treated Rachel as a daughter. They adopted Joshua Cade Guerrero as an infant in 1983 and became a family of five; living, loving and adventuring together. Carlos and Melony received their endowments and were sealed in the Billings Montana Temple on January 11, 2000.

While juggling the demands of a wife and mother in Cheney, Washington and Bozeman, Montana, Melony sewed, gardened and yardened, harvested and bottled her produce, and taught Carlos and their children the joys of camping and fishing with only the barest of life’s sustaining basics. She also enjoyed various techniques of the weaving craft and playing her violin; being a foster parent with Carlos; and quilting and scrapbooking. She made memory bears for family and friends, served as a ward temple and family history consultant, worked in Primary and Young Women in her church wards. Then came grandchildren. Oh my, how she loved that part!

After Melony retired to Cedar City, while Carlos still worked, he introduced her to baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers and she accepted the invitation with vigor. She continued her gardening and yardening ways and discovered four-wheeling the deserts and mountains of southern Utah. More grandchildren came and her interests became moments of sharing and teaching. She improved her fishing skills although reaching the daily limit always eluded her. Carlos retired in 2016 and took Melony home to Richfield where she soon discovered family history and served a five-year mission organizing digital records for the Church’s family history research efforts. She began photo-journaling and documenting for future generations the names and pictures of her ancestors and the places and adventures of their lives.

Melony is survived by her husband Carlos Guerrero, her daughters Kjerstina Vail (Justin) Krum and Rachel Star (Rob) Cocco, and seven grandchildren, Kayla Mae Jordan, Declan Cade Jordan, Connor Joseph Cocco, Kochia JuliAnn Krum, Joshua Jewell Krum, Kaiya Christine Krum, and Jediah DC Krum.

Melony is preceded in death by her son Joshua Cade Guerrero, her parents Jewell Albert and Carol Lydia Vail Busk, her brothers, Kim Lewis and Rodney Jewell Busk.

Melony’s family expresses a sincere Thank You to Sevier Valley Clinic, Sevier Valley Hospital, Thalman Physical Therapy, Southwest Spine and Pain Center, Lenny’s Richfield Family Pharmacy, Golden Pharmacy, and Intermountain Healthcare and Hospice for their kindness and professional services and care for Melony over many years.

 A graveside service will held at the Richfield City Cemetery on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 10 a.m. with interment following under the care of Magleby Mortuary of Richfield.

Funeral Directors: Magleby Mortuary, Richfield, Salina and Manti. Online guestbook at www.maglebymortuary.com

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