Melissa Jeane Duncan Smith, 60, of Fort Wayne, Indiana passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on July 27, 2025, after a courageous seven-year battle with ocular melanoma. Born to William Dean and Barbara Lou Chance Duncan, Melissa was a beloved sister, wife, mother, aunt and friend. She is survived by her loving husband, Timothy Lawrence Smith, children Jordan Leigh and Hayley Rae, and her siblings Timothy Duncan, and Tamara DuVall. She was proceeded in death by her brother Jeffrey Duncan, sister Deborah Duncan, and parents.

She graduated in the top of her class from Snider High School (1983) and earned her degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1987. She married the love of her life, Timothy, that same year. Melissa was a brilliant leader, serving as president and later CFO of first Bhar, Inc. now Sanko Gosei, guiding the company with unmatched grit and heart.

Melissa's legacy extends beyond her professional success. She was a devoted mother to Jordan and Hayley and adored their husbands, Philip and Logan, seeing them as her own sons. She found joy in lake life at Palmer Lake, cross-country national park adventures, and daily word searches. Even in the face of cancer, Melissa worked until her final days, never losing her fierce spirit or sense of humor. She inspired everyone who knew her with her intellect, impressive and ever-expanding vocabulary, loyalty, and love.

Melissa leaves behind a legacy of integrity, fortitude, and unassuming grace. Her family will forever feel her presence in every sunset, every ripple on the lake, and every "I love you to the moon."

Services will be held at Fairhaven Funeral Home on Saturday August 2nd. Visitation will be from 10 am to 11 am, followed by a service at 11:15 AM. Please join us to celebrate Melissa's life.

In lieu of flowers, we have established the Melissa Jeane Duncan Smith Memorial Fund, which will support critical ocular melanoma research and provide much-needed financial assistance for families who, like ours, must travel out of state to receive life-saving cancer care at MGH. This fund is not only a tribute to Melissa's legacy of resilience and love—but a lifeline for others still fighting.

Please consider donating at https://gofund.me/92daf942 .