Ashley Gabriella Rendon

“Anything is possible.” That is what Ashley Gabriella Rendon believed about life. She was a creative young woman, a perpetual inventor, who seemed to be able to find a solution for any difficulty confronting her. She had faith in her ability to find those solutions. Ashley thoroughly enjoyed understanding how things worked. She possessed an inquisitive, confident, and rational nature matched with a versatile and agile mind. Ashley was a person who believed that she could achieve whatever she set out to do.

Ashley was born on February 2, 1996 at Seton Hospital in Austin, Texas. Her parents were Jennifer Pierson and Michael Rendon. Ashley was raised in Austin, Texas. She showed her ingenuity even as a child. When she was confronted with a problem, Ashley could develop an imaginative solution, and she derived satisfaction from knowing she had that ability.

This same talent for finding solutions had a positive bearing on Ashley's family relationships. Ashley was raised with two siblings. She had one older brother, Corey and a younger sister, Tara. When a difficult situation or dilemma arose within the family, Ashley was always there to help figure out a solution for making things work.

As a young girl, Ashley could be found building and inventing new and different things. She was curious, resourceful and interested in anything original. Ashley took part in soccer and track. In her spare time she liked exploring nature and painting.

Ashley was a student at Bowie High School. She pursued her love of the arts and nature in her bold colorful paintings and drawings. Ashley loved being in the outdoors and never saw a "climbing tree" she didn't want to scale or a trail she wasn't curious to follow. No interesting rock or pebble failed to capture her artist's attention, and she often picked them up to be enjoyed or traded with her adored younger sister, Tara, as miniature treasures. She deeply loved her friends and family and was deeply loved in return. She was a beautiful spirit.

Endowed with an appetite for knowing how her world worked, Ashley enjoyed school, especially when the learning experience involved dissecting and probing the unknown. Ashley was adept at scrutinizing different possibilities and designing innovative solutions. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. Her favorite class in high school was art.

Ashley was socially resourceful, an expressive person who was willing to try new things. These qualities drew a lively circle of friends around her. Always interested in her friends’ activities and interests, Ashley was uncritical of her acquaintances. She was sought after by people who recognized that she was generous with her time and energy, and these same friends found Ashley to be very stimulating company. Ashley's humor and curiosity were contagious for those around her. While growing up, she was surrounded by many friends, friends that are too numerous to name!

Ashley's passion for finding a better way to do things was often an end in itself for her. In fact, that interest by itself became something of a hobby for this perpetual problem solver. Since Ashley was always searching for new and unusual activities, she developed many interests and leisure pursuits. Some of the things she became an “expert” in might come as a surprise to those who knew her, but most friends and family understood that Ashley simply couldn’t be limited to just a few activities or ideas. Her favorite pursuits were nature, music and art.

Ashley's calm demeanor and eternally positive outlook served her well in sports. In high school, Ashley ran track. Ashley was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity.

During her lifetime, nothing appeared impossible to Ashley. She met the words “it can’t be done” with the enthusiastic challenge of a “wanna bet” attitude. Ashley was able to recognize the possibilities a new idea held, even when those around her could not. For Ashley, the traditional way of doing things fell short of her expectations, especially if there were original and untested methods for handling a challenge. For Ashley Gabriella Rendon, the fun of living her life could be found in the challenge.

She was very proud to have completed the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church and was baptized into the Catholic faith there.

Ashley passed away on Wednesday, September 4, 2013 in Austin.

Ashley is survived by mother, Jennifer Pierson, brother, Corey Rendon, sister, Tara Shiels; aunt, Shannon Pierson of Houston, and grandparents, Kathi and David M. Foster.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with a Vigil Service at 7:00 P.M.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M., Wednesday, September 11, 2013 at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 5455 Bee Cave Road, with Reverend Father Bud Roland, Celebrant.