Tonya Marie Allender

March 7, 1974-September 13, 2015

Tonya M. Allender, 41, passed away on the morning of Sunday, September 13h at her home in Houston, Texas. She was born to Judy (McCracken) Burke and Ken McCracken, in Houston, Texas on March 7, 1974. She married Steve Allender on April 9, 1999.

Tonya graduated from Nimitz High School in 1992, and then continued her education at Houston Community College to complete the Property and Liability Insurance Course. She started her career at Hines Development as an administrator, then continued with McPherson Development Company before beginning her professional entertainment career as a pianist for Pappas Steakhouse. After playing for three years Tonya decided to stay at home with her two beautiful daughters.

Music and jewelry were Tonya’s passion. Tonya won numerous awards for her piano recitals, including two gold medals for District XIX Solo and Ensemble. Besides spending countless hours at the piano playing, performing and teaching (youtube-tonyaallender) she designed and created stunning one of a kind jewelry pieces shown on www.houstoncrafts.com and www.crystalbuffalo.com. She loved to garden and had one of the most beautiful rose gardens in West Houston. She was also an avid traveler, spending many vacations cruising to destinations around the globe with her family.

Tonya is survived by her husband, Steve; daughters, Natalie and Kara; parents, Judy (McCracken) Burke and Ken and Joyce McCracken; brother, Dale Cureston; sister, Rhonda McCracken; Mother-in-Law, Audrey Allender; Sister-in-law, Michele (Allender) Wood and niece Chelsea Wood. She is preceded in death by her grandparents; father-in Law, Richard Allender; and brother-in-Law, Greg Allender. She also leaves behind numerous loving relatives and friends.

The visitation is from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM on Monday, September 21, 2015 at the Memorial Oaks Funeral Home, Katy Freeway. The funeral service will immediately follow at 12:30 PM and then the burial at 1:30 PM at the Memorial Oaks Cemetery.