Melissa "Missy" Ann Neill Ashcraft's Obituary
MELISSA ANN “MISSY” NEILL ASHCRAFT, age 71 of Columbus, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at The Avalon of Lewis Center. Missy was born on September 2, 1953 in Marietta, Ohio, to Edward Robert “Bob” and Jean Rice Neill. Missy graduated from Barboursville High School in West Virginia. She attended Davis & Elkins College and graduated from her beloved Marshall University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. Melissa began her lifetime commitment to the advocacy and support of others by combining her love of adventure and outdoors while working with the youth population in Huntington, WV. On March 31, 1994, she married D. William “Bill” Ashcraft in Bellefontaine, OH and he preceded her in death in 2016. In Columbus, Melissa dedicated herself to serving the community for over 20 years as a Case Manager for CSS, City of Columbus, Doctor’s Hospital and retiring from Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging. She loved taking her dogs on walks, spoiling her cats, crafting & floral arrangement, listening to music and gardening.
Melissa was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Cassandra “Cassy” Neill Handley and Joanna “Jody” Neill, and brother-in-law, Steven Henshaw Sr. She is survived by sister Peggy Jean Henshaw, brother-in-law Gene M. Handley, nephews Steven Henshaw Jr. and Robert (Rebekah) Henshaw, several great-nieces and nephews and stepchildren, Joni (Bradley) Orders, Jennifer (Joshua) Wilcoxon, Daniel (Meghan) Ashcraft, Amanda (Ryan) Montgomery and grandchildren, Declan, Brenneke, Braelyn, Sullivan, Ava, Alek, Alina & Micah.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the ASPCA, a local animal shelter or foster organization or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Private arrangements entrusted to Buckeye Cremation by Schoedinger
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