MELODY ANN HUDSON LINK

1944-2021

Melody Ann Hudson Link of Dallas, Texas, died peacefully among her family in the late evening of Thursday, September 2, 2021. A native Houstonian, she attended Jefferson Davis High School in Houston and Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

Melody was preceded in death by her parents,

Lillie Bell Wadsworth and Paul Condell Hudson, and her brother, Wesley Paul Hudson. She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Vaughan, of Dallas, Texas, and her son, Wesley Paul Link, of Telluride, Colorado.

In a long and productive healthcare career, Melody was affiliated with some of the finest academically-oriented hospitals in the nation, including Houston Methodist; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles; University of Florida Shands Hospital at Gainesville; and finally, upon returning home to Texas, THR Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. Her personal interests were many. She was a voracious reader, a dedicated gardener, and an astute collector of French antiques and Japanese silks. A loyal cadre of Pomeranians nearly constantly surrounded her.

Melody generally preferred staying close to home, although in intermittent flashes of adventure she could be found with her husband riding on the Orient Express across Europe and Asia, or more improbably, crewing a sailboat to the Yucatán amidst an unanticipated Gulf of Mexico hurricane.

Ever tactful and discreet, Melody remained supportive and loyal to her many friends and colleagues, yet her family came first. She might have suffered a fool gladly, but typically only once. While never flamboyant, Melody frequently sported a selection from her famous and extensive hat collection. Her unique style and poise highlighted a feminine radiance that tempered her independent spirit and keen intellect. The range and depth of her knowledge, interests, and experiences reveal an uncommon and gifted individual. She will be missed.

Of her many lifelong friends, those from her childhood have a special quality and include her cousin Janet Abrahams Martin, and Sandra McDade Poye, of Houston, and Annette Dykema Woodward of Dallas.

A private memorial service is planned for friends and family in Dallas, Texas on Friday, September 17, 2021. A private graveside service to include friends and family will take place in Houston, Texas on a later date.