ASHMORE, Melanie JeanMelanie Jean Ashmore, 61, of Austin, Texas, passed away on Monday, January 23, 2017 at St. David's Medical Center in Austin after a brief illness, surrounded by her beloved daughters and family. She was born on February 18, 1955 in San Antonio, Texas to Jesse J. Ashmore and Bonnie Ruth Young Ashmore and grew up in Tehuacana, Texas. She attended schools in Tehuacana, Coolidge and Fairfield, graduating from Fairfield High School in 1973. After living in Waco, she returned to her hometown of Tehuacana and worked at the Mexia State School as a secretary. She earned her associated degree in Nursing from Navarro Community College in 1982, working as a registered nurse at the Mexia State School and also in Mexia and Grosbeak hospital for many years. After her daughters' graduation from high school in Mexia, Melanie moved to the Austin area working as a nurse and case manager for St. David's hospital for 20 years. Melanie enjoyed her work and touched many lives with her passion for helping others. She loved people and made quick friends with everyone she met, having many, many friends in the Mexia and Austin area. She had a passion for politics, books, live music, the theater, the arts and travel. She also had a quick wit and sense of humor and could not wait to share all of the things she loved with her friends and family. She lived each day of her life to the fullest. Melanie took great delight in being "Mimi" to her grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. Her special joy was in taking her grandchildren on trips with her throughout the United Sates, taking them to Colorado, Oklahoma, Chicago and San Francisco. She was busy planning a trip with her granddaughter to San Diego at the time of her death. She was especially looking forward to her grandson, Mason's, graduation from high school in May, and his plans for attending college in the fall. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Melinda Ashmore Sedlack; and sister-in-law, Tillie Ashmore. She is survived by her daughters, Shelley Baker of Mexia; Robin Baker Laughon and husband, Robert of McKinney; Step-daughter, Carol Minchew and husband, David of Round Rock; grandchildren, Mason Buenger of Victoria; Ethan and Owen Minchew of Round Rock; Hadley and Luke Laughon of McKinney; and brother, Jesse Ashmore of Coolidge; and her nieces and nephew, Carla Kutscherousky, Clay and Keri Ashmore, Jessica and Eddie Mazanec, Adam and Tara Reynolds; great nieces and nephews, Jillian and Cole Kutscherousky, Landri and Carson Ashmore, MJ Mazanec and Savannah and Caden Reynolds.. Melanie had two special friendships with Pam Stuver and Sherry Marlatt, that spanned decades. A Celebration of Life service is planned on Sunday, February 19th from 1-4pm at the Balcones Country Club, Austin, Texas. Memorial contributions may be made to the Tehuacana Cemetery Association, PO Box 123, Tehuacana, TX 76686 and the .