Melanie Jean Ashmore, 61, of Austin, passed away on Monday, Jan. 23, 2017 at St. David’s Medical Center in Austin after a brief illness, surrounded by her beloved daughters and family.
She was born on Feb. 18, 1955 in San Antonio to Jesse J. Ashmore and Bonnie Ruth Young Ashmore and grew up in Tehuacana. She attended schools in Tehuacana, Coolidge, and Fairfield, graduating from Fairfield High School in 1973. After living in Waco, she returned to her hometown of Tehuacana and worked at the Mexia State School as a secretary. She earned her associates degree in nursing from Navarro Community College in 1982, working as a registered nurse at the Mexia State School and also in Mexia and Groesbeck hospitals for many years.
After her daughters’ graduation from high school in Mexia, Melanie moved to the Austin area working as a nurse and case manager for St. David’s Hospital for 20 years.
Melanie enjoyed her work and touched many lives with her passion for helping others. She loved people and made quick friends with everyone she met, having many, many friends in the Mexia and Austin area. She had a passion for politics, books, live music, the theater, the arts, and travel. She also had a quick wit and sense of humor and loved sharing all of the things she loved with her friends and family. She lived each day of her life to the fullest.
Melanie took great delight in being “Mimi” to her grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. Her special joy was in taking her grandchildren on trips with her throughout the United States, taking them to Colorado, Oklahoma, Chicago, and San Francisco. She was busy planning a trip with her granddaughter to San Diego at the time of her death. She was especially looking forward to her grandson, Mason’s, graduation from high school in May, and his plans for attending college in the fall.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Melinda Ashmore Sedlack; and sister-in-law, Tillie Ashmore.
She is survived by her daughters, Shelley Baker of Mexia; Robin Baker Laughon and husband, Robert of McKinney; step-daughter, Carol Minchew, and husband, David of Round Rock; grandchildren, Mason Buenger, of Victoria; Ethan and Owen Minchew of Round Rock; Hadley and Luke Laughon of McKinney; brother, Jesse Ashmore of Coolidge; nieces and nephews, Carla Kutscherousky; Clay Ashmore and wife, Keri; Jessica Mazanec and husband Eddie; Adam Reynolds and wife Tara; great nieces and nephews, Jillian and Cole Kutscherousky; Landri and Carson Ashmore; MJ Mazanec; and Savannah and Caden Reynolds. Melanie also had two special friendships with Pam Stuver and Sherry Marlatt, that spanned decades.
A Celebration of Life Service is planned on Sunday, Feb. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Balcones Country Club in Austin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Tehuacana Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 123, Tehuacana, TX 76686 and the American Heart Association.