Melanie Allen Marcum

Melanie Brooke Marcum (Allen) was born in spring of 1975 to Doyle and Mary Lou Allen. After a 9 ½ year battle with breast cancer, she passed peacefully away surrounded by her family on November 1st, 2023. She is survived by everyone else, including her parents, Doyle and Mary Lou Allen, 8 siblings: Tamara (Gene Lewis), Pamela (Kevin Huffaker), Katie (Jared Nickle), Greg (Staci), Mary (Bryce Duncan), Clint (Kaitlin), Esther (Eric Smith), and Bryce (Amy), and her husband and children. 

She married Brett Marcum, of Clawson, in 1996, and together had 6 children: Ethan (Taylee Tubbs, Logan, UT), Amelia (Joshua Thieme, Kansas CIty, MO), Liza, Tyson, Enoch, Adam, and was the proud grandma of Tyler Thieme. 

Melanie never considered herself to be rich in wealth, possessions, or influence. She did earn an Associate’s Degree from Ricks College, but did not pursue a career, nor did she seek awards, accomplishment or praise. Mom did not care for the latest fashion, travel, or toy trends and was content with what she had. She knew that her role as a wife and mother was the most important role she could have, so she sacrificed and put off her own wants, needs, and dreams so she could prioritize the things most important to her. Her greatest riches were her commitment to her faith, her friends, and most importantly, her family. 

Melanie had such firm, rooted faith and commitment to her discipleship of Christ. Despite and especially through both rounds of cancer, she had such faith that her illness was part of God’s plan for her and her family, and she fully accepted His will. Even through the excruciating pain and suffering, she was able to lean on her faith, feel peace, and lift her loved ones. 

Mom was an amazing mother, wife, daughter, sister, grandma, and friend. She loved kids and from a very young age would volunteer to help her mom with her younger siblings. She was very wise and every day got phone calls from siblings and friends asking for her advice. She had the loving heart of a teacher. 

Melanie was a very selfless person. She had a gift of seeing others’ needs and giving everything of herself to serve those around her. Despite her suffering throughout her treatments, she kept worrying about others’ well being more than her own. 

Melanie loved music and hymns and was very musically talented. She had an amazing soprano voice and was talented at playing the piano and flute. She was especially gifted as an artist and sketched and painted murals for friends and family often. She was very creative and crafty. Melanie could also write very well and was the go-to for help editing essays and papers.

Mom always doubted that she was enough, and worried that she wasn’t doing enough for others. She never seemed to realize just how much good she did for her family and community. The rest of us saw her as a rock, the glue that held our family together. As her cancer progressed, she was amazed at how many people loved her and gave service to our family.

She knew her cancer diagnosis was terminal for three years, and fought for all of those years because she wanted her family to be as prepared as possible. Her fondest hope was that people would prop her family up after she was gone.

She had a heart full of love, a gorgeous smile that could light up a room, and was a true friend. She left very large shoes to fill, and will be missed dearly. Thank you to everyone who has supported her and her family through the last several years. We have felt your faith, prayers, and service towards us and are deeply grateful. The family would especially like to thank Dallin Gambles and all the Rexburg Teton Cancer Institute staff and the Enhabit hospice for their loving care of mom throughout her cancer journey.

To remote view the funeral go to https://zoom.us/j/92893138572