Melissa Beth Tickle-Bond

Melissa Beth Tickle-Bond, 51, of Salem, Virginia, lost her long and arduous battle with protracted illness and joined the angels in Heaven on Thursday, April 6, 2023. Melissa was a passionate woman of strongly held beliefs, a woman of profound faith who relied on the power of prayers, loyalty, and determination to sustain her and to heal her. In spite of the sickness and pain she suffered throughout most of her life, she selected a career that would allow her to help other people. After defeating cancer the first time at the age of 19, she stopped training to be a commercial pilot, decided to become a nurse and finished her Bachelors degree and her RN certification shortly thereafter. Ultimately, she went on to Vanderbilt University, taking a Masters degree there and becoming a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. For many years, she helped her patients find healing. Melissa was also a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, an aunt, and a mother to a medium-sized herd of cats. Most of these cats were rescued by her from tragic circumstances, including the homes of her patients whose illnesses prevented them from caring for the animals properly. At least one of them hopped into her car in a parking lot expecting to come home with her. That cat decided to stay with Melissa and our mother for twenty years. While doing all these things, she continued her battle against diabetes brought on by the bone marrow transplant she had to get when she was 19, against a cancerous tumor requiring the amputation of her left arm, against skin cancer, and against a multitude of chronic conditions. She was preceded in death by her maternal uncle, Jerry Coleman, by her grandfathers, Noah Miller Tickle Sr. and James Coleman, and her grandmothers, Ethel Tickle Burkholder and Eunice Deborah Coleman, both of whom she helped to tend during their final days. She was also preceded by her first cousin John Carlton Tickle and his wife Marci Buckles Tickle. Surviving her is her loving and ever-supportive mother, Blanche Meryleen Coleman Tickle, who was rarely far from her side throughout all of her trials and all of her hard work. Her dedicated and loyal father, Noah Miller Tickle Jr., survives her as well, after standing by her steadfastly throughout her life. Also surviving are her cherished niece, Sylvia Erin Tickle-Rupe; her brother, Shawn Louis Tickle; her sister-in-law, Dana Higginbotham Tickle; her dearest friend, Lisa Browder; her cousin and unofficial little brother, James Morton Coleman, his wife Chasity Anne Coleman, his mother Robin Groves Coleman, his children Anthony Jacob Coleman, Jessica Eris Coleman, and Jocelyn Faith Coleman, and his grandchild, Aurora Lyn Bradshaw. Melissa is additionally survived by numerous other aunts, uncles, and cousins all of whom she loved greatly. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the John M. Oakey & Son Funeral Home in Salem, Virginia with Pastor Sam Hunley officiating. Burial will follow at Sherwood Memorial Park in Salem. Friends may visit with the family from 1 p.m. until the hour of the service. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.johnmoakey.com. Service Details. Visitation When Wednesday, April 12th, 2023 1:00pm - 2:00pm Location John M. Oakey & Son Chapel Address 305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153 Funeral Service When Wednesday, April 12th, 2023 2:00pm Location John M. Oakey & Son Chapel Address 305 Roanoke Boulevard Salem, Virginia 24153 Interment When Wednesday, April 12th, 2023 Location Sherwood Memorial Park Address 1250 East Main Street Salem, Virginia 24153