Melinda Jean Tillett died on the evening of Dec. 14, 2009.  She was 40 years old.  
She was born on April 26, 1969, in Wilmington, Del., the daughter of William J. and Bonnie Donawick of West Chester, Pa.  She moved to Lovell in 1998 to marry William Earl Tillett.  
Her daughter, Billie Katelyn, was born in 1999.  Two years ago, Melinda and Will adopted two other daughters, Richellena Rule, 10, and Freedom Rule, 8.  They live just east of Lovell.
She is survived by her mother, Bonnie Donawick, her father, William J. Donawick, her sister, Stephanie Thomas, her nephew, Joe Thomas, her husband, William E. Tillett, and her children, Billie Katelyn, Richellena Rule and Freedom Rule.
 Services will be held Friday, Dec. 18, at 1 p.m. at Haskell Funeral Home at 605 East Main Street in Lovell.
Her family is asking that, in lieu of flowers, friends can contribute to a special scholarship fund in her name that will be designed to foster further education for local youth in Big Horn County School District No. 2.  A proprietary box has been set up in the Lovell Post Office for the receipt of contributions.  Donations may be mailed to Melinda’s Fund, P.O. Box 322, Lovell, Wyoming, 82431.