Jackie Mynarcik

Jacqueline Renee "Jackie" Mynarcik, age 57, went to her heavenly home early Saturday morning, May 7, 2022. Jackie died of melanoma that ravaged her body the last six months of her life.

A Rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Tuesday at Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel, with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 11,  2022 at St. Mary's Church of the Assumption in West, with Rev. Timothy Vaverek and Rev. Ed Karasek as celebrants. Interment will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.

A self-taught master gardener, skillful marketing entrepreneur, a special education assistant and bus driver, Jackie put passion and purpose behind everything in her life, particularly if it involved her daughters, her grandchildren and the children of others.

The sixth of seven children of Raymond, Sr. and Henrietta Barton, Jackie was born December 11, 1964 at Grant Buie Medical Center in Hillsboro and touched many lives throughout her life. She worked at the West News and Nors Bakery, but she launched her heaven-on-earth career at West Independent School District 23 years ago.

During that time, Jackie worked at West Elementary, West Middle School and West High School serving as a paraprofessional in the areas of content mastery, physical education and special education. Jackie was also what one colleague described as a “beloved bus driver” for many years. The administration thinks so highly of her that they invested in an ad on the West digital billboard that said, “We love you, Jackie". She was just recently named the 2 ^nd Miler for 2022 by West ISD.

Parents routinely expressed their gratitude to her. One parent told her his daughter’s attitude about school was transformed when Jackie noticed her on the first day of school crying and confused. She swept the girl up in her arms and carried her into the school, which helped the new student acclimate to her “home away from home.”

Jackie carefully and painstakingly nurtured the special education students in her care. She was keen to note their shortcomings and help them work through the assignments. Numerous parents have told her their children would not have made it through school without her love and attention.

She was an innovator. Jackie drew the attention of the local media when she launched the Basketful of Books program on her bus route to keep the students occupied and instill a love of reading during the daily lengthy rides from school to home.

Jackie was also passionate and very true blue when it came to the Dallas Cowboys. She and her sister Joanie frequently texted during games. Their comments would probably rival those of the network announcers since they knew practically all the details of each player. In one of her last trips, Jackie and Joanie paid a visit to the Cowboy's training camp.

Another love was to savor the beauty of the sun and seascape. Each summer, Jackie was drawn to one of the beaches along the Texas coastline. She craved the water and time with her daughters, whenever possible. She enjoyed a basin of her own outside her own door after a lengthy day of mowing the five acres surrounding her home.

Jackie is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Henrietta Barton; her brother, Raymond Barton Jr.; and brother-in-law, Tom Overton.

She is survived by her husband, John Mynarcik; daughters, Whitney Barker and husband Dustin, Kaylie Mynar and Ashlee Mynarcik; siblings, Joanie Barton, Randy Barton, Craig Barton, Becky Barrington and husband Gary, and Judy Overton; mother-in-law, Christine Mynarcik; sisters-in-law, Sandy Barton and Rebecca Barton; grandchildren, Maddox Montgomery, Hendrix Barker and Skyye Morrow; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and dear friends.

Jackie’s family would like to thank her friends, family and co-workers who made her transition from this life to the next so smooth. We felt your love with your visits, texts, food and flowers that graced the Mynarcik home.

We also want to recognize the care teams who treated Jackie throughout her illness, including family medicine doctor Eric Chudej, MD, oncologist Carlos Encarnacion, MD, radiologist Justin Wray, MD, and hospitalist Steven Elwell, MD. We appreciate Dr. Elwell for his courage to be specific and inform Jackie that there were no treatment options. We also extend our appreciation to the health care team at Ascension Providence Hospice who supported our family as Jackie transitioned to eternal life.

We ask for your prayers as we accept her premature passing. Our prayer for you is to seek preventative measures in your health care. Listen to your bodies and don’t be afraid to get a quick resolution to your health issue.

Pallbearers are Randy Barton, Craig Barton, Christian Barton, Nathan Overton, Matthew Overton, Jeff Reddell and Ryan Reddell.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a 2022 Special Need Scholarship for a West ISD Student or her Basketful of Books Program.