Melissa Allison Lee

Melissa Louise (nee Allison) Lee, a retired restaurant and catering professional, passed away on April 26, 2025, after a lengthy illness, in Covington, Louisiana. She was 70. She is preceded in death by her parents and husbands Daniel Ellingson, Jeffrey Sherman, and Thomas Lee.

She is survived by her husband Todd Forward, daughter Skylar Sherman, stepson Shaun Forward (Nina Forward), of Houston, TX, brother, Carroll E. Allison (Maura Sisemore) of Cedaredge, CO, 4 nephews, and 6 grand nieces and nephews.

Melissa was born to Rev. Grady N. Allison and Glorietta Travis Allison on March 23, 1955, in Ft. Stockton, Texas. She attended Houston Baptist College, Houston, Texas where she graduated with a B.S in Music.

Melissa lived in Houston, TX, Boulder, CO, New York, NY, Nederland, CO, Grand Junction, CO, Alachua, FL, and St. Simons Island, GA. Throughout her life, she pursued careers in the culinary arts including restaurant ownerships and catering services. She enjoyed painting and writing.

She founded the popular blog and radio talk show, The Permanent Tourist (https://thepermanenttourist.com/about). She owned a catering business and gourmet cookie company in New York City as well as restaurants in Colorado's wine country and Alachua, FL. Melissa was author of Spice Up Your Life and Through the Cooking Glass cookbooks that incorporated slow food and hand blended, fair-trade herbs and spices. She wrote and published Emmeline: at Commander's Palace, a story for children with an easy group of French inspired recipes for aspiring young chefs to try at the end of the book. Prior to retirement, she owned and operated French Blue Door catering/consulting which offered delicious food for small gatherings. She enjoyed exploring New Orleans, working in her garden and cooking for friends and family when she was not writing.