Ravalli County approves $1,200 to cover cremation of unclaimed resident Melody Melissa Kelleher

The Ravalli County Board of County Commissioners voted April 30 to authorize $1,200 to cover interim indigent burial expenses for Melody Melissa Kelleher, who died March 26 in Missoula and was cremated after no immediate next of kin were identified.

The payment will be handled through the county’s indigent burial process while the Ravalli County public administrator seeks reimbursement from Kelleher’s estate, county staff said. Dylan, a county staff member who spoke during the meeting, said the reclaiming of county funds is possible but “it will be a longer process.”

Tom, who retrieved Kelleher’s remains and arranged the cremation, told commissioners he had known Kelleher for years and had signed for and completed the cremation. “I thought it was important that I be here to kind of explain this,” Tom said, describing Kelleher as “very independent” and saying he placed her cremated remains in the cemetery beside her brother. He said he will provide a small headstone and asked the county to cover interim costs while the estate is settled.

Dylan told the board he had spoken with Travis in the county attorney’s office and that, with documentation, the public administrator could work to recover county funds. Commissioners asked that Tom document his costs and submit them to the public administrator.

A motion to approve the indigent burial request for Melody Melissa Kelleher in the amount of $1,200 was moved and seconded and carried on a voice vote. The minutes record three affirmative votes and the motion was announced as carried.

The board and speakers noted the county’s reimbursement process may take time. Commissioners asked that standard paperwork — including a copy of the death certificate and an itemized claim — be filed with the public administrator to support recovery of funds.