Brenda Burke Blackwell

Brenda Kaye Blackwell, 57, of Magnolia, went to be with the Lord on Monday (September 11, 2017) in The Woodlands, Texas after a long fight with cancer.

She was born May 1, 1960 in Fort Worth, Texas where she later met and married Tommy Blackwell on February 14, 1987. She was a long-time resident of Sugar Land where she raised her three children: Daniel, Nick, and Eleesha, before making Magnolia her home in 2011.

A wonderful wife, mother and grandmother, Brenda always put her loved ones before herself, she valued family over everything. She was happiest when surrounded by her husband, children and grandchildren. Her greatest job ever given to her was being Grandma BB to Myla, Kora, and Levi.

Brenda was an active member of Memorial Lutheran Church for nearly 20 years serving many years as a Sunday School teacher and an active member of the congregation. She was a lifetime trustee of The Burke Historical Family Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas, a Texas Registered Landmark. After her service as an officer of the Clements FFA Booster Club she was presented with an Honorary FFA Membership in 2006. In October 2012, she was accepted into the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution where she was an active member of the William Scott Chapter in Bryan. She was proud to serve the Texas Society as a Vice Chair of Project Patriot and was honored with an appointment by the President General as a Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Deputy Representative in 2017. She loved regularly volunteering alongside the wonderful staff and nurses of the Palliative Care Wing at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center. Even after becoming unable to volunteer in person, she still found ways to provide valuable resources for her friends at MEDVAC.

She was content when surrounded by her italian greyhounds, Paddington, Paloma Blanca, and Snoopy. Following the adoption of Paloma in 2011, she became active with the IGCA Rescue of Texas and Houston Italian Greyhound Rescue. Through donations and supporting emergency rescues, she sought to make sure no iggy ever went without. Often dressing her iggies up in ridiculous costumes for pictures, these long-legged dogs were a great source of happiness for her, even in her final days.

She loved to travel and always referenced her wandering feet. Among her favorite trips were the family’s first trip to England and Ireland, several trips to Disney World, touring the many champagne houses of France, seeing the Sagrada Familia while listening to The Alan Parsons Project, and most recently renewing her vows with Tommy on their 30th wedding anniversary in the Arctic Circle in Finland.

Surviving are her loving husband of 30 years, Tommy, of Magnolia, a son Daniel Blackwell of Magnolia and his wife Katie, and their two children Myla Kate and Kora Mae, a son Nick Blackwell of Spring, and his son Levi James, a daughter Eleesha Blackwell of Conroe, a sister Bobbette Burke of Fort Worth, her Uncle Donald and Aunt Nina Burke of Arlington, many cousins and loved ones across England, and numerous close friends.

The family would like to thank Dr. Davesh Pandya for his loving care and guidance provided to Brenda during her 5 year battle. We would also like to thank the many doctors and nurses at Houston Methodist, especially Kim Randle for the incredible care provided to Brenda during Harvey.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m., Friday, September 15, 2017 at Memorial Lutheran Church, 5800 Westheimer Rd, Houston. Her friends, the Reverend Dr. Scott Murray, will officiate and Reverend Charles Wokoma will serve as the crucifier. Graveside Service to follow at Salem Lutheran Cemetery, Tomball. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, September 14, 2017 at Memorial Lutheran Church.

Memorials may be made to The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, The Rose Houston, or to the IGCA Rescue of Texas.