Marlo Jean Jennings Mattingly, 44, passed away on Monday, August 3, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. She was born in Waverly, Virginia on February 13, 1971 and was the youngest of four daughters born to Lewis F. Jennings and Dorothy Silva Jennings. Marlo lived in El Paso, Texas most of her life. She moved there with her family when she was just five years old. Marlo was very fortunate to begin kindergarten at Parkland Elementary and then 13 years later, graduate as a proud Parkland Matador with the same friends who started school with her. Many of those same friends have stayed lovingly by her side, up to and including the hours and minutes before her death. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and bravely fought a long, hard battle through three relapses, radiation, numerous surgeries and a year of chemotherapy.
Marlo graduated High School in 1989 and went on to work at Great American Land and Cattle and Village Inn in El Paso. Her smile could light up the whole world and her infectious, positive attitude brought joy to just about everyone she met. She married Darren Mattingly in El Paso on August 11, 1990 and they had two daughters, Awbri and Mahalia soon thereafter. Their life was filled with joy and Marlo was an amazingly loving and patient mother. Another surprising and incredibly joyous event occurred in 2005 when Marlo gave birth to their son, Gage Sky Mattingly. No child could ever be more loved by doting parents and adoring sisters. Marlo also worked at Walgreens in Huntsville, Alabama and at Wells Fargo in McKinney. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends and co-workers.
She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Jennings, who never left her side throughout her brave fight against the cancer. She is also survived by her former spouse, Darren Mattingly, her three children, Awbri Mattingly, Mahalia Mattingly, and Gage Mattingly, and her three grandchildren, Alessandra, T.J. and Yazmeen, all of McKinney, Texas. A fourth granddaughter, who will be given her grandmother's name, is expected in September. She also leaves three sisters; Rebecca (John) Somerhalder of Atlanta, Mary (Bill) Kennedy of Benedict, North Dakota, Angela (Ingo) Kolbeck of Seeth, Germany, 7 nieces and nephews and 15 great nieces and nephews. Her stepmother, Janet Jennings, three step-siblings, Mike White, Kathy Griffin, and Laurie Becker, an uncle, Talbot Jennings, and numerous cousins all live in Virginia. Marlo is also survived by an aunt, Sylvia Serna, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, and two uncles, Sonny (Carol) Silva of Andrews, Texas, Joe Edward Silva of Tijeras, New Mexico and numerous cousins in New Mexico, Texas and Maryland.
Marlo was preceded in death by her father, Lewis F. Jennings, in 2013 and nephew, Cody Hinson, in 1994.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2015 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home (Exit 38A Ridgeview Dr. and Highway 75) 2525 Central Expressway North in Allen, Texas 75013. The family will receive friends during a visitation one hour prior to the before the service.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society at cancer.org/donate.