Christina Jo Ervin

Chrissy radiated light to everyone she met with her love, grace, and quietly passionate spirit. Though the last two years of her life were spent fighting cancer, she would want everyone to know that cancer is not what defined her.

Born November 13, 1977 to Bob and Rachael Gotcher, Chrissy knew from an early age that the world was what you were willing to make of it. And boy, did she ever make something of it. An academic powerhouse in school, Chrissy also excelled at tennis and bowling growing up, becoming a Texas state junior bowling champion. She also loved expressing herself through music, playing the viola through college and beyond. She attended James Bowie High School, graduating in 1996 before attending Sam Houston State University, attaining both Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Accounting in 2001.

From there she worked as an auditor for TDCJ, PwC, UHY, and finally Harris Health System where she excelled at data analytics. During her time there, she earned an ACL Certified Data Analyst lifetime certification by winning the Best Use of Analytics global award in 2013.

Her insistence on excellence extended into every corner of her life, earning a second-degree black belt in 2025 in Kempo at the American Institute of Martial Arts studying under Sijo James Smith and Sifu Mildred Smith, whom she greatly admired and counted as family. She also was an accomplished chef and baker, feeding groups as small as a household and as large as a UM ARMY mission trip. The director of that mission memorably said, "This is probably the first UM ARMY where everyone is going to go home weighing more than they did when they arrived." Her diverse interests also included hiking, reading, quilting, and learning anything new she could get her hands on.

Chrissy leaves behind the love of her life, Michael Ervin, after 27 phenomenal years of marriage. Meeting at Sam Houston State University in 1996, their romance took off when the phone bills from Austin to Houston and back topped $250 on each side. They were married on August 7, 1999 in Austin, Texas.

Chrissy also leaves behind two children: Gabriel (b. 2002) and Benton (b. 2005). She would tell everyone that her children were the best thing to ever have happened to her. She remains immensely proud of both her children and her new daughter by marriage, Jaz Mijares-Ervin (who married Gabriel on August 26 in Chrissy's hospital room at MD Anderson).

She also leaves behind her mother, Rachael Gotcher of Edna, TX, mother and father-in-law Jan and Allen Ervin of Pasadena, TX, and countless extended and chosen family throughout Texas and beyond.

Chrissy was preceded in death by her father Bob Gotcher and sister Erin Baker.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at the Deer Park Municipal Courthouse (also home to Art Park Players) located at 1302 Center Street, Deer Park, TX 77536 at 10:00 a.m on September 12, 2026. If attending, please wear bright colors.

In lieu of flowers, Chrissy's wish is to have donations be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center of Houston, Texas.