Melyssa Ann Hubbard

Melyssa Ann "Missy" Donaghy Hubbard, 62, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away Friday, February 7, 2025, at her home following a brief illness.

She was born in Indianapolis, IN in 1962 to Darleen J Donaghy, grew up in Kokomo, IN until graduating from Hayworth High School in 1980, moved to Ohio to attend Mt Vernon Nazarene College and then moved in 1986 to Indianapolis, IN where she spent the remainder of her life.

As a proud homeowner in the Meridian Kessler neighborhood, she was involved for a period of time in political activism helping to initiate events that led to the founding of Indiana's Tea Party. She was inquisitive and industrious, always figuring out creative ways to find work that she was good at and that she loved. She was a fantastic salesperson, working as a car salesperson for a time, but especially loved her work in advertising sales at Angie's List. She continued to develop skills in her various jobs which enabled her to thrive in the thrifting and resale business over the past several years. However, one of her most fulfilling roles was her last, driving patients to their medical appointments in cities across Indiana. During these drives, she calmed nervous patients, listened to their stories and told her own.

Missy was full of life and drew so many people to her. She loved cooking and, as her mother and grandmother before her, knew how to throw the best dinner parties for her friends and family. Food was her love language with favorite times spent around a table with people sharing good food and conversation–often about how good the food was. She was generous to a fault, never going anywhere without the perfect gift in hand. She would do anything for the people she loved, driving through the night to visit them or check in on them with a phone call or text. 

She loved her family, especially all the kids or "punkins" as she would call them. It was her greatest delight watching them grow up and share stories with them of the heritage they were born into. They loved her and all the crazy, fun things she was willing to do. She would teach them about Janis Joplin, do dance parties with them, and play dress up with wild hair and make-up. She would dream up food contests to entertain the family—a sloppy joe cook-off, best pizza in town, and best barbecue chips—and then get everyone in the house to participate and choose their favorite. She was so vibrant and knew how to make an event a good time. 

Though her early life had many difficulties, Missy was resilient and chose to rise above it all. Her compassion for others grew out of this, and her boisterous laughter was a testament to the deep joy she felt in her life. This was never more true than in the last couple years of her life when she turned to the Lord and found herself depending more on Him. She spoke frequently to her family about how Jesus had saved her life and made all the difference for her. Her life and her laughter will be greatly missed. 

She is preceded in death by her mother Darleen Atchley Donaghy; her brothers James Donaghy and Patrick Donaghy; her grandfather, Donald Jarvis; her grandmother, Lola Hubbard Atchley Jarvis Weeks; her uncle, Michael Jarvis; her uncle, Lincoln Stevens; and her niece, Emily Carter.

Missy is survived by her sister Melinda (Dennis) Bolen of Oakwood, Georgia; her nephew Zach (Kattie) Bolen and children Hunter, Peyton, Ella, and Aryanna of Winder, Georgia; her niece, Mattie (Mustafa) Khasawneh of Fishers, Indiana; her nephew, Nolan Donaghy of Fishers, Indiana; her aunt, Betsy Stevens of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; her cousins, Don Lewis (Bonnie) Jarvis of Savannah, Georgia; Sarah (David) Lehman and their daughter Lola of Charlottesville, Virginia; Adam Stevens and his children Micah, Jonah, and Lydia of Boardman, Ohio; Peter Stevens of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; and Katherine (Ben) Radcliffe and their children Simeon, Matthias, Tabea, Naomi, and Luka of Kudjip, Papua New Guinea.

In remembrance of Missy, please pass on a gift of service or kind word to someone who may be struggling as your act may make a world of difference to them. The family is planning a private memorial service at a later date.