Daughters Honor Parents’ Life, Legacy By Planting Trees In Tulsa

The daughters of a Tulsa couple are honoring their mom and dad by planting trees in the city their parents loved.

The sign with Ron and Gina's names went up on Memorial Thursday. Melissa Powell felt like it was a sign from above when Up With Trees asked to do the ceremony on February 25, which just so happens to be her birthday. What better way to celebrate than to honor her parents.

"I see a lot of love. I see a lot of support, people who have been inspired and touched by my parents," said Melissa, one of Gina and Ron's Daughters. 

The legacy our loved ones leave behind and the way we share their stories is important, even if they aren't physically here with us anymore.

"My mom passed away in 2006, from ovarian cancer and a few months ago in October my dad unexpectedly passed away," said Melissa. 

Legacy, for Melissa and her sister Renee Powell, looks like a line of trees along Memorial.

"They are always going to be a part of Tulsa and I feel like planting trees, you think of a family tree, you think of life, you think of growth," said Melissa. 

Because of COVID, the family didn't get to have a ceremony for Melissa's dad.

"My dad was very quick witted, very dry sense of humor and he loved to play pranks on other people," said Melissa. 

She reached out to Up With Trees and found a way to honor both of her parents. Thursday, a sign was cemented into the ground with her parents' names, Ron and Gina, on display. 

"My mom, she was very childlike. She was a dancer and she loved to make people's day. She loved to joke and laugh, just a very caring heart," said Melissa. 

"She knew how to be a good teacher because she was a good mom. Her kiddos adored her as did lots of students at the studio," said Shelly Ledbetter with Miss Shelly's School of Dance.

This is a little piece of Melissa's mom and dad, that will always be here. Their legacy continues with every car that passes by.

"I want as many people as possible to know that my parents truly gave to Tulsa and inspired others here," said Melissa. 

If you would like to learn more about Up With Trees or to adopt a tree site of your own, visit their website here.