In memorial, there will be a worldwide silent vigil beginning at 11:00 AM on Sunday morning, November 12th. Those who wish may join the family for this vigil on the central beach of Pinecrest Lake, off Hwy 108, above Twain Harte. This gathering will be followed by a celebration of Mo's life at the Snowshoe Brewery in Standard, CA, just off Hwy 108 between Sonora and Twain Harte beginning at 1:00 PM. We ask that all don their brightly colored clothing, bring their favorite potluck dish, instruments and voice.

In recognition of Melissa's accomplishments, the family requests that contributions be made to Soroptimist International of the Americas, whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls through education, in local communities and throughout the world. The Soroptimists are able to direct any donations made in Mo's name to their Women's Opportunity Awards.

Melissa Borders Stevenson Melissa Lee Stevenson "Mo" was born September 16, 1950 in Evanston, IL, to Melville Washington Borders Jr. and Jane Leiner Borders, and died at age 56 on Highway 50 near Kyburz, CA, on October 15, 2006. Melissa's loving family members include her mother and father Jane and Walt Stevens; her husband Tim Stevenson; daughters, Molly and Paige O'Brien, Maya and Emily Stevenson; her brothers Mel Borders, Rich and Don Stevens; her sister Martha Borders; and her niece and nephew Sunny and Silver Paley, and Al O'Brien. Mo moved to Millbrae as a child, graduated Capuchino High in 1968, and attended UC Santa Barbara. She lived many years in Twain Harte in Tuolumne County, and also near Merced. Melissa and her husband Tim had moved to their dream bungalow in Jacks Valley near Carson City, NV, in early October, 2006.

In a full life of love and wonder, Melissa maintained her chosen right-livelihood as a playwright and actor through her nationally touring program Biologues, Women in History, which she authored, directed, marketed and performed. As a public historian, her artistry touched hundreds of thousands and gained many awards including international accolades given previously to royalty. Her artistic inventiveness also spilled into pen and ink with watercolor, magical face painting, murals, set and prop creation, costume design and tailoring, quilting, upholstery, house concert promotion, studio modeling, songwriting, and luminous improvisational arts on stage, with friends, and in the kitchen, as well as her writing of numerous theatrical programs, plays, seminars, youth theater education, children's books, movie scripts and even a racy novel. The homes she created were full of color and art from the front door to the back garden, the result of her bountiful energy. As a passionate pacifist, her congresspersons regularly recognized her hurried, near illegible addressing and signature.

As a performance artist, her goals beyond mere survival as an actor were to foster empowerment and self esteem in women and girls, and to work for gender equity, bringing the theatrical arts and humanity fields together for education and awareness. She created opportunity for low income people to experience theater and highlighted history as a thread of the courage and leadership of the present and future.