Melissa A. “Missy” Dalgarn and her twin sister Melinda “Mindy” were born in Cincinnati, OH on September 29, 1952. Missy died on July 12, 2019 at home with her brother and sister at her side. Funeral service will be 11 AM, Friday, July 19, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church, Galena where family and friends may gather after 9:30 AM until time of service. Burial will be at a later date. Cremation rites have been accorded. The Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena is in charge of arrangements. Born prematurely over 66 years ago and not expected to survive, each day was viewed as a special gift. With that in mind, Missy lived her life with the goal of making the world a better place. She grew up in Great Falls, MT, then moved to the Seattle area where she graduated from Interlake High School. Fond, early memories include the family ownership of a resort and 500 tree cherry orchard on Flathead Lake in Montana and five summers spent working as a waitress in Alaskan fish canneries. Missy graduated cum laude from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR with Bachelor degrees in psychology and communications and obtained an M.Ed. from Colorado State University where she was elected to the Phi Kappa Phi honorary. After spending several years in higher education, Missy’s career transitioned to corporate human resources where she was employed by The Pillsbury Company, Kraft Foods and Daymon Worldwide, Inc. As her career progressed her philosophy became “join the workforce, see America” having lived in Seattle, Minneapolis, Baltimore, New York and Chicago. Missy’s special passion was figure skating. Having learned to skate as a child, she joined a synchronized skating team while living in Minneapolis and competed regionally and nationally. A thrill of a lifetime was skating in exhibitions in Sweden and Finland as part of the first international synchronized skating competition. Missy went on to gain pre-gold certification in adult ice dance through the USFSA. Mindy and Missy purchased retirement property in The Galena Territory 20 years ago and began a rewarding journey as they planned their dream home together. Always ready with a smile, can do attitude and sense of humor, Missy cherished their many dear friends and the activities available in the tri-state area. Missy was a member of the GTF Education and Scholarship committee and the Civic Affairs Commission. In 2014 Missy and Mindy established The Mop Shop in Elizabeth to support those in Jo Daviess County who self identify as in need of cleaning supplies. In addition, the sisters founded Pieces of the Past Puzzles to honor their mother and father, caregiver and dementia patient. Mindy and Missy were committed to supporting the post secondary educational goals of local young people and were pleased to establish the Dalgarn Family Scholarship in 2013. Those left to cherish her memory include her loving mother, Irene, (Galena), beloved sister and best friend Mindy (Galena), kind and generous brother Chris (Bothell, WA), sister-in-law Suzy (Bothell, WA), niece Madison (San Luis Obispo, CA) and nephew Zachary (Seattle, WA). Her treasured father James pre-deceased her in January 2016. Missy wishes to thank her family, friends and acquaintances who so lovingly and uniquely enriched her life. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Mop Shop or the United States Figure Skating Association in memory of Missy. Online condolences may be left at www.furlongfuneralchapel.com