Melody Counce

March 21, 1970 - March 28, 2018

Melody Dawn Counce, age 48, of Washington, Iowa, died Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at her residence in Washington. Celebration of life services will be held 7:00 p.m. Monday, April 2, 2018, at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home in Washington. Calling hours will begin 4:00 p.m. Monday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 Monday evening. Private family interment will take place at a later date. A general memorial has been established. Online condolences may be sent for Melody’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Melody was born March 21, 1970, in Washington, Iowa, the daughter of James Raymond and Shirley (Brown) Van Auken. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1988. Melody has enjoyed the company of her forever partner, Jesse Rivers, for the past twenty years. Melody worked as a CNA at the United Presbyterian Home in Washington and had previously worked in sales at the Washington Evening Journal. She enjoyed fishing, bowling, baking and gardening. She especially loved family gatherings and spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her forever partner, Jesse Rivers of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Naomi Van Auken and partner Ramon Chavarria of Marshalltown, Iowa; daughter, Olivia Counce and husband Ricardo DeJesus of Washington, Iowa; son, Colby Counce and partner Heather Hill of Elkhorn, Wisconsin; step-son, Jesse Lynn Rivers and partner Cashanna Williams of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; step-daughter, Shally Jean Rivers of Decatur, Illinois; step-daughter, Jessica Rivers and partner Tyler Conaway of Iowa City, Iowa; step-son, Richard Rivers of Columbus Junction, Iowa; step-son, Justin Craig of Washington, Iowa; and eleven grandchildren. She is also survived by her mother and step father, Shirley and Richard Metzger of Columbus Junction, Iowa; sister, Peggy Hoback and husband Jon of Columbus Junction, Iowa; sister, Sheila Lukins and husband Mark of Washington, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews. Melody was preceded in death by her father, James Raymond Van Auken; son, Miles Counce; sister, Gayla Boyd; and her maternal and paternal grandparents.