Taft Raider HS - Memorial Page

Mary Emma Combs - Taft Class of 1990 - Passed away 3.22.08 at the young age of 35.

Mary gave her heart and soul to everything she did and everyone she met.  She was my little sister and I was her #1 fan (still am).  She lived and loved with no judgement and was a true cheerleader in her life as well as her schools.  She accomplished a lot in her little time in life.  Always giving it her all.   She danced and cheered her way through high school and in college too where she graduated on the Deans list from Howard Payne University.   She competed in triathlons and even co-ed roller-blading races - yes, she won most of them.  She was humble too - a beautiful quality that shone through in her compassion she had for everyone else.   She left us with precious gems - Kelsey and Brett - who are shining legacies.  She left us too soon, but she is all around us and cheers for us all.  She shows us her signs and when i catch them, i share them on a blog i had made just for her: 

Link to Loving Mary Forever (Dancing and Cheering blogpost)

Those who knew her, know exactly what i'm talking about here.  Mary was pure love and joy.  She has touched many peoples hearts with who she was and will live on through us forever.  I will cherish her forever - she is connected to my very soul. I am a better person today because of her.   She has allowed my faith to longer be blind. I can see Clearly now.  The synchronicities she has brought illuminates my life.

LOVING MARY FOREVER!!!

Mary at Howard Payne University:

Mary at her teacher/coach job in Nederland, TX:

Mary and her children Kelsey and Brett sit on my fireplace mantel:

Special Reconnection

Thanks to FB, I've been reconnected with my Taft HS lil sis "Elizabeth".... we were reconnected at a very special time in my life - My wedding! I received an e-mail so special it brought tears to my eyes.
We've stayed in touch... there's something special about our friendship! It's been over 20 years but it doesn't matter! It's NOW that matters!

What is amazing is the fact that she still had a special gift I gave her back then. She just shared these with me today on 1/1/11!

These magical earrings ~ Wow!! Elizabeth was a little younger than me,
so when I left Taft HS and Mary arrived,
they were on the dance team together!
Beth knew and loved Mary too!!

M-A-R-Y - Goooooo Mary!

Dancin' ~ Cheerin'
Mary did it all!

I remember Mary's freshman year, she was so torn between trying out for dance team (following in my footsteps) or cheerleading!

Well, she ended up doing both throughout her HS years! She tried the dance team thing her sophomore year (along with bleach blonde hair - which we fixed pretty quick and laughed about it years later).

Dance team just didn't seem right, soooo, she Cheerleaded into her Senior year.

She was so good! She flipped and flopped and tumbled and jumped and yelled and smiled and cheered her little heart out.... she was right at home!

Mary was a natural born cheerleader......
her energy, smile and enthusiasm was so contagious!

She looks like a little cardinal in these pictures. Pretty ironic isn't it?

Mary's Memory lives on

William Howard Taft High School
Class of 1990

In Memory: Mary Combs (McCraw)

http://www.taftraiders1990.com/class_profile.cfm?member_id=1379246

I am so happy to have found that Kerri, Mary's best friend since jr. high school reached out to the right people and shared the loss of her BF (& mine) to their classmates. I too have gotten in touch with one of her classmates Jenn Greenwood who had some wonderful things to say about her:

Hi Jeni, I have granted access, so you should be able to go in and make your profile now. I was so sad to hear about Mary; We had a couple classes together over the years at Taft and sr year we sat next to each other in marine science... she always inspired me and made me smile.

I have a few photos I've uncovered that we'll be using for our memorial table in July at the reunion.... and we're going to be asking others to provide what they have so we can make sure she's with us at the event.... she touched many lives at Taft and it's important we remember her spirit and her constant smile.

Thank you for asking to join the group - I know the class will be happy to hear from you.

v/r

Jenn

I'm so happy to keep Mary's memory alive!! I am looking forward to providing what I can to help those remember an angel we had here on earth. Mary loved everyone and most of all, she loved to smile and make you smile back! She was the greatest Cheerleader in life! GO MARY!!! She looked so pretty in red too! Love the Taft colors ~ GO BIG RED!!