Tara Marie Raymond

May 2, 1977 – September 21, 2026

Tara Marie Raymond, 49, of St. Louis, Missouri, died on September 21, 2026, surrounded by people who loved her deeply.

Tara was born in St. Louis on May 2, 1977, to Phyllis Joanne Blackbird and Frank Michaelree. Her mother, Phyllis, was raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and Tara was a member of the Oglala Lakota Tribe. Tara was adopted as a child by Patti and James Joseph Raymond.

Tara attended St. Catherine Labouré and Ursuline Academy and later took courses at Fontbonne University. She was a beloved “lunch lady” at MOSAIC Elementary School in the Mehlville School District. She used her creativity to make fresh food fun, transforming bananas into dolphins and vegetables into roses. She adored the children, and being a member of the MOSAIC family brought her so much joy. Students scheduled “sleepovers” for their animals with her lunchroom mascot, Cinnamon. She gave the children high fives, love, and words of inspiration each day.

For 18 years, Tara shared her life with her beloved partner and best friend, Bob Melville. Together, they raised two adorable bulldogs, Molly and Pork Chop. During her final 24 days at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Bob remained by her side, surrounding her with the same love and companionship they had shared for nearly two decades.

Tara was hilarious, a natural storyteller with a talent for writing and an ability to make people laugh. She was also extraordinarily kind and thoughtful. Tara loved holidays and had a gift for making homemade, personal, meaningful presents, including St. Louis-themed baskets. Even as her own life was ending, Tara was thinking about others. Before she died, she gave her family instructions to deliver gifts and a message to the MOSAIC staff.

Family was everything to Tara. In a large extended family, she was often the person who made sure everyone stayed connected. She was always planning gatherings and brought energy and creativity to family celebrations. She convinced twenty-two family members to travel from across the country to Fox Lake for what ended up being her final family reunion. Her adoptive family was Sicilian, and she bought vegetables from a longtime, family-owned Sicilian produce stand at Soulard Market and made homemade sauce for an Italian meal for the group.

Tara was the fun aunt, deeply cherished by her nine nieces and one nephew: Amanda Marrione, Audrey Raymond, Olivia Raymond, Esther Raymond, Ava Raymond, Addie Ritter, Elise Ritter, Katryn Hallermann, John Hallermann, and Corinne Hallermann. She loved being part of their lives.

Tara had an adventurous spirit and loved the outdoors. She loved float trips, big bonfires, road trips, oceans, rivers, lakes, and night skies. As a young woman, her desire to understand her Oglala Lakota ancestry led her to drive from St. Louis to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where she connected with her people and attended a powwow. She later had a circle of tipis tattooed on her back to represent the sacred hoop of life.

Tara’s ancestry became an important part of how she understood herself. She treasured knowing where she came from and carried that history with pride.

Tara is survived by her beloved partner of 18 years, Bob Melville; her adoptive siblings, Jack, Julie, and Sara; her birth siblings, Michael Martinez, Daryl Martinez, Cheryl Kettler, Stephanie Gutierrez, and Jerry Stanley; her nieces and nephews; and a large extended family who loved her deeply.

She was preceded in death by her birth parents, Phyllis Joanne Blackbird and Frank Michaelree; her adoptive parents, James “Jim” and Patti Raymond; her adoptive brother, Joe; her birth siblings, Mary Taylor, Thomas Kettler, and Kathleen Dunkus; and other beloved family members who went before her.

She was loved fiercely and will always be remembered for her laughter, generosity, energy, storytelling, creativity, and enormous heart.

A private memorial is being planned for Tara by her family.

In remembrance of Tara’s life, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Oglala Lakota Children’s Justice Center: https://www.lakotacjc.org/