Kris Mancini Carr

December 20, 2018

Kris Ann Mancini was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania on October 5,1967 to Christina and Lee Mancini. Krissy, as she preferred to be called, also had an older brother Glenn. Krissy and her family moved to Florida in 1974 when she was 6 years old. She grew up in Seminole, Florida and attended Bauder Elementary School, Seminole Middle School and Seminole High School. She enjoyed playing with her neighborhood friends as a child. She always looked forward to the elaborate Halloween decorations and pranks that her father, Lee would put on for the neighborhood as a child. Krissy was also a member of the Seminole High School marching band and worked as a grocery store cashier as a teenager.

She had many friends growing up and enjoyed going to parties, the beach and whatever else sparked her interest. She graduated from Seminole High School in 1986 and worked at her parents business “Lee’s Carpet and Interiors” while also attending St. Petersburg Junior College. Krissy then met Eric Downs in the hospitality business in 1989, located in Florida where they dated and then became pregnant and married in October of 1989. Krissy’s first daughter, Lacey Ann Downs was born on May 2, 1990 in Largo, Florida at Suncoast Hospital. Krissy and Eric remained together for a short time. She then met Bobby Lester in the early 90’s, also in the hospitality business, and began dating when they became pregnant. Bob and Krissy had her second daughter, Mandy Marie Lester born on May 23, 1993 at the Seminole Women’s Center. Krissy and Bob married in 1995 after moving to Ohio briefly, where Bob is originally from, and where his parents and siblings lived. Krissy, Bob, and the kids lived in two different homes while in Ohio and adopted a female German shepherd by the name of “Nikki”.

After working in the hospitality business throughout the beginning years of her daughter’s lives, Krissy wanted a career that was more stable and concrete so she could provide a good life for them. She decided to move back to Florida where her family lived for extra support and Bob stayed in Ohio a little while longer. Krissy moved in with her mother who lived in a good school district for Lacey and Mandy. Krissy began working for the Hartford Insurance company in 1996. Bob moved back to Florida during this time and Krissy purchased her first home located in Seminole in 1997. She continued to flourish and grow within the insurance business and became very good at her job. Both of her daughters attended Bauder Elementary School, Seminole Middle School, and Seminole High School just as Krissy did when she was their age. Krissy enjoyed taking Lacey and Mandy to the park, mall, beach, and on play dates with her friend, Josephine and her daughter, Joyce. She loved to coordinate fun birthday parties for both Lacey and Mandy since they shared close birthdays, which always involved water balloon fights, wheelbarrow races, piñatas and dance performances the kids made up to their favorite songs. Krissy and Bob adopted a second dog in 1997, a male yellow lab/chow by the name of “Sonny”. With a house full of kids and pets their family grew.

As the kids grew older, the family enjoyed boating and camping on the weekends with the dogs to various springs around Florida. Krissy then changed companies in the early 2000’s where she began working for Progressive insurance, and to no surprise, excelled at her job which we learned she was a natural at and well-loved by her peers. She also enjoyed spending time with some of Bob’s family that was located in Florida and would often go to Bob’s sister, Lorrie and brother-in law, Pedro’s house on the weekends to play Gin Rummy while Lacey and Mandy played manhunt and board games with their two children, Brooke and Keppa.

Krissy was very family-oriented and also did a lot of fun things with her parents and the kids like mystery train rides with Lee or pop concerts with Tina as the kids became older. She also helped coach Lacey and her two childhood best friends, Cassie and Katie’s basketball team, the “Badgers”, with Katie’s father, Tom while the kids were in 3rd grade.

Krissy received many promotions while working with Progressive and commuted to Tampa from Seminole, Monday through Friday, as she was very dedicated to her career. She attended all of Lacey and Mandy’s dance, cheerleading, and karate practices throughout the years as she always encouraged them to be active and play. Krissy loved to take her girls to Candy Kitchen on the beach and Orange Blossom Groves to get their famous orange ice cream and watch all of the oranges being packaged.

While Lacey and Mandy were in Middle and High School Krissy and Bob divorced while still remaining close friends. In the spring of 2007 Krissy took Lacey, Mandy, and Lacey’s best friend Cassie on a 5 day cruise when her and Dave first started dating and was one of the happiest times of Krissy’s life. Krissy also adopted a yellow lab puppy for Lacey’s 17th Birthday that year when both of the childhood dogs passed the year before. She also took another trip that May to Mexico with her mom, Tina and extended family from Pennsylvania. From 2007 to 2010 Krissy attended Lacey and Mandy’s homecomings, proms, swim meets and graduations along with many family functions and birthdays. Her favorite holiday was Christmas and always made it extra special for her kids and family. In 2010 Krissy’s daughter, Mandy gave birth to Krissy’s first grandchild, Angelina Mya’Marie and her second grandchild, Mila Ray in 2015. Krissy was the best grandmother and very close with both of her grandchildren as she attended school functions for the kids and took them on fun adventures like pirate ships out of Madeira Beach, Put-Put golf, and horseback riding. The kids called her “gigi”. Krissy was also a huge support as Mandy joined banking in 2011 and Lacey became a Registered Nurse in 2014. Krissy was extremely proud of both of her daughters and they always met for the traditional Saturday morning breakfast at First Watch and looked forward to their after work phone calls with Krissy to talk about their day and give them advice on life.

Krissy met Dave Carr of Redington Beach in December 2006. It must have been divine intervention as their friendship blossomed very quickly and in early 2007, they became a "couple". Outside of their work, you could always find them together. During a trip to Laguna Beach California in 2015, she said YES to Dave's marriage proposal then they enjoyed the next week in Hawaii starting to plan the next phase of their life together. May 2017, they got married on the beach in Treasure Island, Florida and then went to Costa Rica to enjoy their honeymoon. Krissy had mentioned to many that May 6, 2017 was the best day of her life. Dave knows that it was indeed the best day of his life to make a life long commitment to the love of his life.

They shared the same interests in all respects to include a passion for the water, their Labrador Retreivers- Nash, Charlie, Mako and Woody, travel, beach activities, boating and the outdoors. Most weekends you could find her on their boat, enjoying the warm weather and beautiful water. There wasn't a beach she didn't like nor a boat ride that wasn't thoroughly enjoyed.

But Krissy's main passion was the love for her friends and family. There wasn't a person that she ever had a negative thought or word towards and she found the positive in everyone and everything. She was in daily contact with her family and was always there to lend a hand or a shoulder to lean on. Her 2 granddaughters, Angelina & Mila were always the sparkle in her eyes and they meant the world to her.

Krissy was loved by all and she left us way too soon. There will not be a minute of any day that she will not be in someone's thoughts and/or prayers. God could have not created a better person than Krissy. She was truly an incredible person and a role model for all.

Memorial contributions are suggested to SPCA Tampa Bay, 9099 130th Ave N, , Largo, FL 33773

Casual Beach Attire requested for Krissy's Celebration of Life.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home 7950 131st St., N., Seminole, FL\727-931-0121.