Melani Edeen Shotola, a Queen Anne resident for the past 14 years, died of cancer on June 10, just eight days short of her 51st birthday.
She was born on June 18, 1956, at Fort Sill, Okla., to Robert and Marilyn Shotola. Her father was an Army private at the time, which obliged the family to "move a lot": Japan, then Albuquerque, N.M., then (following military service) Madison, Wisc.; Laramie, Wyo.; and finally Portland. Melani attended the University of Oregon and graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology.
Following college, she moved to Washington state.
During her Queen Anne years, Ms. Shotola was backup resident manager for Olympic West Apartments. Among many incidents there, she was given an award for getting residents quickly out of the building during a fire. For the past several years she served as an election judge at the Bayview Manor polling place. She was a member of Volunteer Park Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Ms. Shotola was fond of travel, cooking, reading, writing and playing with her cat, Jazz. She was very musical and played her flute for residential holiday parties, as well as for her Portland family.
She is survived by parents Robert and Marilyn, sisters Leslie and Susanne, brother Bob, brothers-in-law Christopher and Matt and sister-in-law Julia, four nephews and three nieces.
There will be a memorial service for her on Saturday, July 7, at 3 p.m. at Volunteer Park SDA Church, 1300 E. Aloha St. on Capitol Hill. All are invited. Remembrances may be made to the church
.
This poem was an Editor's Choice Award for the International Library of Poetry in March 2004.
THE SNOWY DAY
by Melani Edeen Shotola
When I awoke and looked outside,
my view of life was white.
Seagulls and crows soared high above,
cawing out their sheer delight.
Outside at last and in the throng,
I walked to Queen Anne Hill.
Adventurous skiers and sledders played,
sliding past full bore.
At lunch, I made hot turkey soup
with vegetables and rice.
It hit the spot, and warmed me up,
my temperature just right!
I took a nap and dreamt sweet dreams
of childhood gone by.
My hope of all tomorrows,
snowflakes in the sky.
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