On the morning of January 9th, our beloved Mandy passed away peacefully after a courageous and hard-fought battle with cancer. Over the past several months, she faced her illness with incredible strength, grace, and bravery.

Mandy was surrounded by the people who loved her most, and passed without pain, something we are deeply grateful for during such an unimaginably difficult time. She was a loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend whose warmth, kindness, and love touched everyone who knew her. As we navigate this profound loss and make arrangements to honor and celebrate her life, we appreciate the continued prayers, love, and support from all who care for Mandy and our family.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites those who wish to honor Mandy to consider a contribution toward medical expenses and the children’s education, as an act of love and remembrance.

Obituary:

Mandy’s incredible adventure began on September 19, 1972 in Silver City, New Mexico. It didn’t take long for her parents to realize that their third daughter, simply put, had a lot of spunk! Her early days reached across many states, as her railroad dad transferred to Iowa, Illinois, California, and Texas. She never met a stranger, and the sparkle in her eye and infectious smile won the hearts of many. The nostalgia of rollerskating, making mix tapes, playing Barbies, and riding bikes in the neighborhood until dark would live on in her heart, as would her love of 80s music.

High school graduation led her to college at her beloved Baylor University. Sorority Life (Go Chi O!), kicker-dancing to Garth Brooks, road trips, sky diving, and milking college life led her to life-long friends who were with her through thick and thin.

With her college degree in hand, Mandy packed up her car and headed to the Peach State, site of the upcoming1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. She didn’t have a job but had a dream in her heart and sheer determination to start a new chapter. After stints as a barista and with the United Way, she took to the airways as a flight attendant and trainer for Delta Airlines. Little did she know that she would one day fly the 2024 Vice Presidential candidate, JD Vance, on the campaign trail. Being a political newsy, and “ditto head” she loved every second!

After a full chapter in Atlanta, where she married and had four amazing kids, a move to Texas found her planting new roots among family and friends in DFW. With boundless energy she would continue to spin many plates at once, serving on the HEB Chamber of Commerce, the HEB School Board, chairing multiple committees, hosting events, and investing in her community. Her love for her community led her to a love for real estate, helping clients plant “Deep Roots” in surrounding neighborhoods. To Mandy, it wasn’t about the houses, but about people finding homes to nurture their families and continue their stories.

Although Mandy found great satisfaction in her work endeavors, she loved to play! Her love of travel led her to faraway places and adventures. Whether she was meandering through the streets of Paris or riding a camel in the outskirts of Morocco, she loved experiencing different cultures, namely meeting people of all walks of life and enjoying the cuisine. She traveled with family, friends, and even solo, leading her to record her adventures in her travel blog entitled “Soak it Up Solo”.

As full as this life may seem, the paramount adventure was being “Mom” to the four loves of her life. Her twin daughters, Katie and Mae, arrived on the scene first, followed by daughter Sydney, then son Paul, affectionally known as Trip. Mandy thrived as a young mom and wore many hats . . . soccer mom, cheer mom, band mom, PTA mom. Memories of her dancing with them, sewing crazy costumes every Halloween, and showing up to every single extra-curricular event will be forever etched on the hearts of her darlings. She taught them early how to reach out their hand for a handshake to introduce themselves and taught them to be independent thinkers and brave world changers.

Mandy’s sense of wonder and adventure on this side of heaven can be traced throughout her life. She loved sunshine on her face and her toes in the sand. She loved sports, following her Baylor Bears, and thrived on nail-biter endings. She loved trips to the movies, and a good cafe on foreign soil. She challenged herself to be better, stronger, and strived to live on purpose. Deciding to follow Jesus in high school, her journals, highlighted Bible verses, and personal Bible notes reflect a life of devotion and awareness that following God was her ultimate adventure. She always stated with confidence that God went before her, and she rested in that loving security. This ultimate adventure led her to a pure, perfect, and fulfilling love in heaven on the dawn of January 9th. We will miss her dearly for the rest of her lives, yet are so grateful that our lives were touched by this beautiful, brave, and inspiring soul.