Melinda Kay Black

Hi, my name was Melinda Kay Black. All my friends and family called me Mindy. I was called to Heaven by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on a rainy Tuesday morning December 29, 2020.

I loved life, dogs, cooking,traveling, camping and getting away from it all. I worked over 40 years in retail at Strasburger, Montgomery Ward, Marshalls, Dillard's, Weberg, Room Store, Dubois, did store demos and displays at Walmart and HEB and my last job before retiring in 2013, Britt's Drugs. In my earlier years, I worked for the UT police as traffic control and security. I had many jobs as you see. In junior high, I made cheerleader at Burnet. I graduated from Lanier High School in Austin in 1974. Got to see many of my old friends at our 40th Reunion in 2014.  On my offtime, we adopted 10  dogs from shelters, flea markets and the neighborhood. Plus the 3 litters, 12 pups total we found good homes for. I loved my dogs! We both worked hard at saving and was able to retire in 2013. That is when the adventures began. We have visited 20 National Parks  (my favorites were Rocky Mountain and Big Bend)  and 40 state parks in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Missouri, Tennessee, Arizona, and Utah. We most always tent camped. We always said - Keep it Simple -
I helped Richard get started on the tent and while he finished, I blew up the mattress and put down the bedding. Ready to go out on exploring then. And exploring we did. We hiked in all our parks and many National Forests also. We always made it a practice to kiss in every park. I loved my music - Kenny G and the Moody Blues. I was born in Austin on November 29, 1955 to Aaron and Helen Gill. My parents were hard working people who had a daycare in Austin for many years. After that, they moved to Smithville, where they had an antique shop in Alum Creek. I moved back there in 1986 and helped at the antique shop. One day, I met my future husband while sitting outside the shop. We spoke and smiled and soon, I visited his shop he had just opened there and he took me out on my  birthday later  that month and as they say, the rest is history. We were married for 31 years, marrying at my parent's home in Smithville on September 30, 1989. We moved to Belton that same year because of Richard's father's death to take care of his Mom. That is were we lived to this day, in Miller Heights. 

I am survived by my husband of 31 years, Richard Black, my brothers, Steven Gill and his lovely wife Mary Jo and David Gill and his loving wife Billie. My  strong at heart  brother in law George Black.  My little chihuahua Crystal Gail. My many wonderful nephews, nieces, cousins and most of my aunts and uncles have already left this Earth. I loved them all and will miss them dearly.

Well, goodbye all - Onward thru the Fog, as our motto says ! No more pain to put up with - I am free!

Donations may be made in Melinda Black's name to your local animal shelter or to the American Cancer Society.