Mary Missy Melissa Thornton Garcia

And a cure was not to be,

So He put His arms around her

And whispered, “Come with Me.”

With tearful eyes we watched her suffer

And saw her pass away,

And though we loved her dearly,

We could not make her stay.

A golden heart stopped beating

Hard working hands to rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.

Mary Melissa "Missy" (Thornton) Garcia was born November 27, 1979 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to the parents William & Sharon (Franklin) Thornton and passed away September 21, 2011 in Houston, Texas. Since her earliest days, Missy suffered through many medical ailments. She received care at unknown places like Wagoner Hospital and at world class institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her early and lifelong experience with the loneliness, fear and risk of injury and death for a medical patient provided her a unique empathy with – and understanding of – the suffering of patients of all kinds. This love for patients extended to a love for people in general, most especially for children. It was in an environment surrounded by children where Missy felt the most joy. She always went above and beyond to make children feel loved, appreciated, and secured in every way possible. She used her passion for music, art and games not only to help children feel valued, but also to teach them life lessons. Despite any pain, discomfort or other suffering she was enduring at the time, children always brought out the best in her. This feeling was heightened after the birth of her two nephews. It was for them that she fought so courageously for during the two years after her cancer diagnosis. Missy wanted every child to have hope, dreams and experience life to its fullest, and she did everything she could to achieve that for her nephews. To her last breath, all she asked for was to hold her “babies”, tell them how much she loved them, and admonish them to live righteously in the Lord. Her motto of “keep fighting-never quit” resonates not just with her family but with all who were touched by her love.

Missy is survived by her husband of 10 years, Mario Garcia, sister Tami Blanchette and her family, mother Sharon Thornton, aunt Linda Smith, father William Thornton and many other dear family and friends as well as children – young and grown the world over. She is preceded in death by her “Granny” Mary Franklin, and her uncle Ronnie Smith.