Katey was a 2017 graduate of Leander High School where her love was being a Leander Blue Belle on the high school dance team where she was team Chaplain. A part of the Blue Belles Katey was passionate about teaching special education students who were known as the Diamond Dancers. Her second passion in high school and beyond was Sign Language. She chose it as her foreign language. Katey was a natural and loved it. She signed the Star-Spangled Banner before several Blue Belle events. While attending Lamar University in Beaumont for the fall semester of 2018, she was named to the President’s list with a 4.0 GPA. Katey was a student at Texas State University in San Marcos, studying to be a teacher. She planned to specialize in Special Education and American Sign Language.
Katey never gave up the fight and she never stopped spreading awareness. Katey wanted to help further research of Ependymomas by donating tumor tissue and healthy brain tissue. She was also able to donate her corneas as to help someone else see. She was always concerned for others. When once asked why she was always concerned and looked out for others she replied, “It’s what I do best.”
Katey was always smiling and tried her best to make you smile. Her dash was Love in Motion. Her beauty was inside and out. Katey loved well and you felt it when you were around her. She was a lifelong lover of all things Disney. Katey even had a Minnie Mouse tattoo on her wrist, her husband Austin has the matching Mickey Mouse tattoo on his wrist. She watched all the movies, especially the princess movies many, many times. She was the reigning champ of the card game Color Brain Disney Edition. Second to Disney would have been the show, Friends. She had to have her daily dose. She loved to dance, sing Disney songs, eat junk food, post to Instagram, Facebook, and Snap Chat and watching YouTube videos of Rosanna Pansino.
Katrina is survived by her husband, Austin Holmes, her parents, Ken & Belinda Malin, and her siblings: brother, Ross Malin of Round Rock; sisters, Harley Malin Haubrich and her husband, Connor of San Antonio & Denver Malin of Georgetown & her BFF/Sister Abigail Schnucker of Leander. She is also survived by Kevin & Tracy Pasnik of Austin and grandparents Jerry Malin of Manor; Louise Queen of Liberty Hill; Dorothy Dunn of Leander; many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandfather ElRoy Dunn, step-grandmother Carol Malin, and her Aunt Gina Malin.
We will honor Katrina with a Celebration of Life party on Saturday, August 14th, 5:00pm-9:00pm at the Malin home. Attire is a suggestion, not required: Hawaiian shirts. Her celebration will consist of some of her favorite things, a petting zoo, memories and stories ending with a sunset tribute.
Katrina’s family offers special thanks to Dell Children’s Hospital, Dell Children’s Blood & Cancer Center, especially the doctors, nurses, and staff of Dr. Virginia Harrod; St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN and the doctors, nurses and staff of Dr. Thomas Merchant; Kate Sautell, Katey’s physical therapist and friend; Austin Cancer Center & Austin Cyberknife and the nurses and staff of Dr. Stephen Brown; and Hill Country Memorial Hospice in Frederickburg for the excellent care they provided Katrina and our whole family and the loving care they continue to provide to our family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to further childhood brain cancer research either through Dell Children’s Hospital, Dell Children’s Blood & Cancer Center or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Katrina’s Cocoon Crew will also continue to collect and distribute ‘Play It Forward’ dress up costumes and outfits to children at Dell and St. Jude to bring a smile and a small way to escape into a world of playtime even for a little while.
Our heart aches. Boo Berry, we will miss you every minute of every day, but know that we will be ok.
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