Melody Lynn Craft Ashmore

June 20, 1964 – April 25, 2023

Melody Lynn Craft Ashmore was born on June 20, 1964, to Nita and Milton Craft in Corpus Christi, Texas. She enjoyed those early years in Corpus with her sister, Melissa, and her brothers, Michael and Mark. They would often visit with their maternal grandparents who lived in Corpus, take trips to see their paternal grandparents in Kountze, TX or take annual summer road trip vacations across the US in the station wagon pulling the Apache pop up trailer. Melody once asked her parents if she was born on vacation since they were always on the road when her birthday rolled around. Her love and commitment to family can be traced back to these simple times and the example her parents set for her.

At the beginning of Melody's 9 ^th grade year, Milton's job took the family to Houston, Texas. They settled in Spring, TX where she attended Klein High School and was a member of the marching band. After graduation in 1982, Melody joined her sister in College Station at Texas A&M University, where she attained a degree in Elementary Education. It was there that she would meet the love of her life, Kendall Ashmore. They had their first date their sophomore year and never looked back! They were married at Kinsmen Lutheran Church in 1987 shortly after college graduation and bought their first home in Tomball, TX.

While Kendall was becoming a commercial airline pilot and Melody was teaching elementary school, they realized their dream of becoming parents - first Erik ('90), then soon after, Kyle ('92) were born. Kendall's job then took them to Bangor, Maine, where their daughter, Rachel ('94), was born. It was here that Melody learned what she was truly made of – perseverance, resourcefulness, creativity, love – as she built a home with her husband and three small children, across the country from her own family. They established their next home in Fayetteville, Georgia, where they became dear lifelong friends with the Clark family, with whom they still enjoy annual lake trips to Florida. After a few short years, they moved back to Spring, TX to be closer to family and Kendall's career. Melody's fun spirit and easy-going personality allowed her to make lifelong friends at every stop along the way.

Even though Melody decided to retire from teaching to stay home full time with the kids, you could always find her at her children's schools volunteering. She would rarely say no and offered her many talents ranging from mural painting to set design to fund raising. When she wasn't in the school volunteering, you could find her driving Rachel to dance classes and Bearkadette performances or cheering on Erik and Kyle at their baseball and lacrosse games. It was in this close-knit community that she formed some of her most rewarding and closest friendships. It didn't matter where her friends were - from the East Coast to Maine to Georgia to Australia - Melody always made it a priority to keep in touch.

Melody's hospitality was one of her most notable qualities. Her home was always open to others and their house on Lake Livingston quickly became one of her favorite gathering and entertaining spots. You could find Kendall and her there most weekends, often with friends or family surrounding them or hanging out with her close friends and neighbors on the cove. Not only was she welcoming, she brought the fun to the lake! She would always encourage games and competitions, took pictures to capture the memories and felt most relaxed on her early evening boat cruise around the lake with Kendall at the helm. Her care and compassion was extended to her pack of adopted pets – Bebop, Cooper, Penelope and Junie B.

Friends and family relied on her constantly for things – from decorating chalkboards to being shuttled to doctor appointments (she dubbed her services as MUber, short for Melody-Uber, and even made merch for her new brand!) or simply to be a listening ear. Nothing was beyond her willingness to help others and make them feel loved. Gatherings such as Thanksgiving always brought her much joy and she enjoyed her visits with the Moody cousins, and the Ashmore family cousins. She always made everyone feel special and went all out when celebrating with others.

Nothing brought greater joy, though, to Melody than her three children and loving husband Kendall. You could always find her humbly boasting about their accomplishments, standing by their side helping them when needed and enjoying just listening to them and what was going on in their lives. She embodied the Proverbs 31 woman – clothed with strength, spoke with wisdom, watched over the affairs of her household and never sat with idleness. (Just ask Kendall about the many projects she has going!)

Melody is preceded in death by her parents Nita and Milton, her grandparents, her brother Michael and her brother-in-law Colin Ashmore. She is survived by her husband of 36 years Kendall Ashmore, her three children Erik Ashmore and Emile Faye, Kyle and Jordyn Ashmore, Rachel Ashmore and her fiancé Jake McGuire. Her sister Melissa and Steve Schmid, Emily and Audrey; her brother Mark Craft, Bethany and Quade Edge and Basil and Sawyer, Lindsey and Megan, and Travis; nieces and nephews Robert and Mariah Craft and Michael James, Jacob and Madison; Rebekah and Tyler Long and Keegan, Olivia and Parker, Ryan. Mother-in-Law Joyce Ashmore. Niece and nephew Orion Ashmore and Sam Ashmore; brother-in-laws Scott and Tracy Ashmore and Sydney, Scott and Kate; Nick Ashmore and Blake and Parker; and many friends and cousins that were so well loved by Melody.

The family will gather for a Celebration of Life at Faithbridge Church at 18000 Stuebner Airline Rd, Spring, Texas, 77379, on Thursday, May 4 ^th , at 11:00 a.m. with a Reception to follow immediately after in the Fellowship Hall. Price of admission is a good story of Melody.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in Melody's name to Creative Action www.creativeaction.org .