GAINESVILLE — Melissa Lamont McGaw, March 12, 1968 – April 3, 2023, left this world on a bright sunny day in Gainesville, Florida surrounded by her family and loved ones when God called our beloved Missy home at the young age of 55.

A strong, stubborn, spit fire born in the spring of 1968, Missy brought a special spark into this world. She had a passionate loyalty to life and was completely authentic in her experience of being alive. She loved her younger brother Walter and their special bond remained steadfast right up until the end.

Missy grew up and spent the majority of her childhood in Montville. It was there that she began her love and true devotion to animals with the adoption of Duke – a pony who introduced her to the world of horses. Duke’s headstrong tendencies shaped her “just do it” attitude and influenced her to lead a life of equestrian accomplishments in the US and in Ireland. “Mama” the sheep, “Foxy” the red fox, a pet deer, chickens, dogs, and other farmyard animals were also part of her tribe- some even followed Missy and their family when they moved to Lincolnville. Her passion for horses continued as she raised and bred Arabians with her mother, Anne, and attended Lincolnville School.

A beautiful, blonde, heartbreaker, she graduated Camden Hills Regional High School, class of 1986. It was there that she met and eventually married her high school sweetheart, Brian Bragg. Shortly thereafter, they welcomed their first two children and moved to West Rockport where Lily Hill Farm started to take shape. A haven perched up high on the hill, the farm was home to many horses as well as llamas, mini ponies, a donkey, goats, and other unique animals.

After welcoming two more children, Missy started a small traveling petting zoo called “Barnyard Buddies” and was often found at children’s birthday parties and nursing homes spreading cheer. She spent most of her life teaching riding lessons, leading trail rides, hosting horse camps, picking up hay bales, and hauling a large trailer to horse shows and events, all the while raising her own children and any of their friends needing a place to call home for a while. Missy worked extremely hard as a mother, partner, and equestrian instilling a great work ethic in her children. Life was always an adventure with Missy and she continually made friends along the way. She had a heart for the ones behind on their luck, and always stopped to give a helping hand.

When most of her children were grown and out of the house, Missy downsized and changed direction in her life. She moved to a farmhouse in Searsmont and worked as a professional massage therapist at her company, Sea Street Massage therapy.

She later met and remarried the love of her life, Sandy McGaw. They enjoyed a fun, joy filled handful of years before it was tragically cut short by a fatal motorcycle accident. Heartbroken, Missy did her best to move forward and began splitting her time between Camden in the summer months, and central Florida in the winter. She often traveled back and forth from Maine with her dogs, cat, horse, and Maybelline the pig. She enjoyed kayaking down the Rainbow River, riding horses, exploring, thrifting, and having fires beneath a large, untamed live oak tree in the back yard.

Her last few months were spent treasuring time with Ray Shawl, a special man who truly loved Missy for who she was. It goes without saying that her generous, adventurous spirit grew with every passing day. Time and time again friends, family, and even strangers, would compliment her on her great sense of style. She would usually respond by gifting them the shoes off her feet or the hat off her head. Gift giving was her love language and she enjoyed showing up unannounced with a little ‘something’ for no reason other than it being a beautiful day.

Missy was an unrelenting advocate for being your unique self. With a contagious laugh and a big smile, she was always warm and welcoming to family, friends, and neighbors. She was an amazing listener – always excited and enthusiastic when hearing your plans or even just the day’s events. She loved to dance, listen to music, and spend time with friends. Anyone who spent time with her often said “always be prepared to have the time of your life with Missy.”

As her children grew up to raise families of their own, Missy adored being Nana-Gram and looked forward to any time spent with her grandchildren. Although she loved them all fiercely, her first grandson, Liam held a special place in her heart and she will be sorely missed by him, as well as many family members and friends.

She is a true testament to the saying “only the good die young” and will be remembered as a unique and loving soul, full of beauty and compassion. Her family members all knew that no matter the circumstances, she would always have their back. She taught them all the true meaning of unconditional love. Missy made the world a much brighter, happier place to belong and for that we are forever grateful.

Missy is survived by her parents, Walter Sr. and Anne Lamont; her younger brother, Walter Lamont Jr.; her four beautiful children; True Bragg and his wife Jannika, Ivan Bragg and his wife Kayla, Max Bragg and his wife Kayla, Addie Koskinen and her husband Kyle; her step daughter Maggie McGaw and step son Mac McGaw; her 7 (soon to be 8) grandchildren (Liam, Landrie, Ivory, Emery, Beau, Beckett, and Jovie); her niece and nephew Avary Otis and Chapin Lamont; and many special friends and extended family members.

She is predeceased by her husband Sandy McGaw.

A celebration of life for this remarkable woman will be held May 6, 2023, at 2 p.m., at Riverside Farm, 1430 Moody Mountain Rd, Searsmont, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pope Memorial Humane Society.