Melissa Ellen Thomas Lory of Frisco, Texas,passed into peace January 14, 2017,dying after a long struggle with addiction. She was born Monday, March 10, 1969.Mel grew up in Richardson. She went on to get a degree in Criminal Justice at Cal State University at Hayward and then earned her Masters in Counseling at Amberton University in Frisco. She was an outstanding employee as a training director and mentored others who found success in their fields.Our girl was beautiful, brilliant, outgoing, and generous, with a great sense of humor. She got sober January 29, 1990 and was very active in recovery, helping many people get sober and stay sober. When she loved you, she was all in she would wade into the messy parts of your life as well as the joyful parts. She treasured her friends, loved her family, and adored her sons. Melissa was full of life, compassion, empathy, joy and passion. Those qualities reached far and wide and she was self-less in so many ways in how she loved others. She loved hard and she loved well - sometimes to her detriment.Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, which required pain medication. Addiction got the upper hand and Melissa could not stay sober for more than a few months at a time after that, though she tried and tried and tried.Melissa was preceded in deathby her father, Charlton E. Thomas; and her son, Cameron Farrer.She is survived by her family who cherishes her; sons, Tristan and Sutton Lory and Anthony Farrer; mother, Ellen Cassidy and step-father, Dick Cassidy; brother, Maury Thomas and his wife, Carin; step-sister, Katy Cassidy; nieces, Madison Thomas, Kennedy Thomas, and Alicia Norwood; step-niece, Emily Hickman; step-grandmother, Gracalie Davis;aunts, uncles, cousins, andliterally hundreds of friends (including her, Shiloh Shepherd, Jayden) - all loved her and ached with her struggle. While we grieve her passing and the tremendous loss of this bright light, we know that love like hers doesnt go away. Its here with us forever.ACelebration of Her Life will be held Sunday, January 29, at 2:00 p.m. in the Brooks Family Chapel of the North Dallas Funeral Home, 2710 Valley View Lane, Farmers Branch, Texas 75234.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made the educational fund set up for her sons, Tristan and Sutton Lory, at Legacy Texas banks. We thank you for the outpouring of love and support.Please leave the family condolences and share memories on this website.