Cynthia Wise Bauge

Cindy was born September 7, 1943 in Ottumwa, Iowa to Opal and Donald Wise. She was raised in Des Moines and graduated from Roosevelt High School. Later she attended Iowa State University. She met husband Harry Bauge in the 10th grade and they fell in love on their first date. They were married on May 1, 1965 in Des Moines and would have celebrated their 55th anniversary this year. Daughter Melissa was born in 1969.

In 1976, Harry and Cindy moved to Plano to found Grant Sales, Inc., a carwash distributorship. They worked side by side growing the business until Harry retired in 1992 to pursue other endeavors. With Cindy at the helm, Grant Sales grew to provide sales and service in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. The Company was recognized as Texas Family Business of the Year by the Baylor University Hankamer School of Business in 1998.

In addition to leading the team at Grant Sales, Cindy was a dedicated volunteer to various Boards and Commissions throughout Plano and Collin County including Plano Planning & Zoning Commission, Plano Tax Abatement Committee, Plano Increment Financing Committee, and Plano Economic Development Board. She was elected to the Collin College Board of Trustees in 1988 and served twelve years as a Trustee as well as Secretary of the Board. In addition, she was a founding member of the Collin College Foundation and served on its Executive Committee; as the Collin College Board Facilities and Construction Committee Chairman. In 1986, the Plano Chamber of Commerce awarded Cindy the inaugural Athena Award& named her Business Woman of the Year and she was also named one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Collin County Business.

Mima, as she was called by the Garrett Girls, loved spending time with her family especially her granddaughters Madison, Megan and Taylor. She was the best and most proud Mima. She fought for many years to be there for her granddaughters as they achieved many milestones such as birthdays, graduations, first jobs and an engagement, always putting on a brave face. She attended every soccer game, choir concert and awards ceremony that she could, and bragged endlessly about “The Girls” to her friends. Cindy enjoyed seeing them off to trick or treat when they were little and as well as all dressed up for school dances. She was a consummate hostess and served a meal that few could rival. She was up on the current fashion trends and would send “The Girls” off shopping for her because she always wanted to look “C&D” – cute and darling. She will be greatly missed by all.

Survived by husband of 55 years Harry Bauge of Plano; daughter and son-in-law Melissa and Tod Garrett of Fort Worth, three granddaughters Madison Garrett of Fort Worth, Megan Garrett of Austin and Taylor Garrett of Austin; also sisters in law Lyla Cisco of Frisco and Ellen Chance of Des Moines and so many special friends. Preceded in death by parents Opal and Donald Wise and sister Sally Wise Hutton.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the coming weeks.

Donations may be made in Cindy’s Memory to the Donald C. and Opal D. Wise Endowed Scholarship at Collin College or Susan G. Komen.