Never Stop Being Engaged

Before Mary Kay Melton ever walked through the doors of a Sequoia Living life plan community, Viamonte at Walnut Creek, she believed in the idea of it.

When a close friend first introduced her to the concept of a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), she was drawn to it — not because she needed care, but because she wanted community. She had a deep desire to remain part of the world.

Mary Kay lived in Sun City Lincoln Hills for 20 years. After becoming a widow, she remained active and engaged. When she began exploring her next move, she was focused on momentum, not slowing down.

In 2016, while Mary Kay’s daughter was attending a Walnut Creek City Council meeting, she learned about a new senior living community being planned nearby. At the time, it was still taking shape, long before permits were finalized or construction began. When her daughter shared the news with her, Mary Kay immediately saw the appeal. She has always looked for practical paths forward, choices that make life easier, safer, and more productive. Without hesitation, she reserved her home while the community existed only in a drawing.

In 2020, when she finally stepped through the doors for the first time, something clicked. “I knew this is where I would be comfortable,” she says. 

Mary Kay arrived ready to connect, contribute, and be part of something larger than herself. What she found exceeded her expectations. “There are real characters here,” she says with unmistakable affection. “It’s fun. Every day, there is something interesting happening.” Her community isn’t just supportive; it’s joyful, surprising, and full of life.

Over time, she naturally became someone others gravitate toward. As chair of the Welcoming Committee, Mary Kay checks in on new residents, extends invitations, and makes sure they know how to navigate their new home and community. She didn’t set out to lead. She simply showed up and paid attention. Because belonging wasn’t only something she found, it became something she helped create.

Mary Kay makes sure every newcomer feels seen, supported, and encouraged to participate at their own pace. She understands what it feels like to arrive unsure, and how powerful it is to be met with warmth. She wants each person to know they matter here. 

Viamonte gave her a new way to be part of a vibrant community. Mary Kay gives it back every day. She will Never Stop Being Engaged.

Mary Kay met her husband while attending UC Berkeley. His career as an engineer with Exxon took their family around the world. Mary Kay raised their two children overseas, building a life rooted in adaptability, curiosity, and connection. Teaching English as a second language in Venezuela was one of many ways she stayed engaged wherever they lived, and family has always remained at the center of her life.

Mary Kay is deeply involved in civic life and politics, volunteering her time and staying actively engaged with current issues. Evenings often find her reading the news over a glass of wine. Several times a week, she participates in exercise and strength-training classes at Viamonte, seeing physical health as essential to staying active and engaged. “I don’t know what I do all day,” she says with a smile, “but I’m always busy.”

The Welcoming Committee’s mission is to support residents in making a smooth transition to Viamonte at Walnut Creek. It ensures newcomers feel comfortable, informed, and truly at home from the start.

Led by Mary Kay, the committee helps orient new residents to both the community and the surrounding area, offering guidance on everything from finding a new primary care doctor or dentist to locating the nearest Trader Joe’s or dry cleaner. Mary Kay encourages all residents to extend invitations to dinner, activities, and casual conversations, fostering a shared culture of welcome in which everyone plays a role.