Melody Ann Beye was born April 9th, 1960 in Herrington, KS and was one of seven children to Elsie and Walter Beye. Melody made her journey home on August 21, 2025. Melody spent her childhood in Herrington, graduating from high school in 1978. Following her graduation, she arrived in the panhandle of Nebraska at Chadron where she worked as a lumber jack. Later, in 1979 she hired on to Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, where she was employed as a laborer, then as Chief Engineer for the Maintenance department. She held her position at BNSF over 4 decades until her retirement in April, 2020.
In 1981, Melody met Jerry McCracken and the two were wed January 13, 1982 in Hemingford, NE. Later that year, their first daughter, Robyn Ann was born. The family welcomed their second child, Amy Elaine, in 1984.
Melody was always one to pitch in and roll up her sleeves, lending her help however she could. She was involved in community projects like the Helpers Express and active in the BNSF’s Black Diamond Rails Club. She was thrilled with the time served as a mentor to children at the Alliance Middle School. Melody was a long-time member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Melody was well known for her green thumb. She carried an immense joy and passion for growing the most astounding plants and flowers. Her vegetable gardens were to be envied and yielded the best salsa and canning parties. She generously shared her bountiful harvests with friends and neighbors. In any fair weather, Melody could be found enjoying the fruits of her labor on her patio, her favorite room of the house. She was often busy spending her spare hours in retirement toiling away in her arts and crafts room, relishing in her creative endeavors, and traveling around visiting her daughters and grandchildren. Melody rarely knew a stranger, was known to have a great sense of humor, garnished with a back to the last molar smile and the most contagious laugh. Melody was an undeniably supportive, loving mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and mentor. To know Melody was to love her. She will be forever missed by all she touched and her absence leaves a faintness in our hearts where she was a bright, shiny light.
Melody is survived by her daughters, Robyn (Santiago) Rodriguez, Amy Dobrinski; grandchildren Acacia McCracken, Miguela Bello, Diego Rodriguez, Araceli (Osiel) Rodriguez, Jazzlyn and Blake Dobrinski; great-grandchildren, Daniel, Milize, Alexander, Ayliani, Camilla, Anthony plus another little one on the way. She also leaves behind her siblings Sherri Murray, Bruce Beye, Cindy Gabe, Bret Beye, Darlene Stillwagon and Walter Beye plus numerous nieces and nephews. Melody was preceded in death by her parents.
A Celebration of Life honoring Melody will be held Friday, August 29th, 2025 from 3-6pm at the Alliance Eagles Club. Memorial accounts have been established in Melody’s name online through Go Fund Me and at Consumers Cooperative Credit Union in Alliance, NE.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com.