Roll Call Tribute

Kara M. "Michele" (Best) Mangum 

April 15, 1969 - July 11, 2023 

Kara “Michele” Best Mangum, answered her beloved Jesus’ call to come home early in the morning of July 11th, 2023. She left her weary, painful body behind to claim His promises after eighteen months of battle with the second cancer of her fifty-four years.

Visitation will be on Friday, July 14th, 2023 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Cook-Walden Capital Gardens in Pflugerville, TX. Her funeral service will be on Saturday, July 15th, 2023 at 1PM at Parkway Bible Church in Pflugerville, TX. Burial will follow in the Cook-Walden Capital Gardens.

Michele was born in Abilene, Texas to Jim and Karie Best, two true West Texans who grew up hard and poor, but decided that their love wasn’t complete with one daughter and decided many years later that they wanted another child. She grew up surrounded by friends, family, horses and dogs, learning the values of hard work, big love for those around you, and service to others from a young age. She came by her stubbornness honestly. She graduated Texas A&M University with a degree in Recreation and Tourism Sciences, educated in the processes and logistics of taking care of people when they’re away from their home, or seeking activities to renew their spirits. Her parent’s legacy and her education combined to create the force of will, love and care for people that was Michele.

When Michele and Matt moved to Pflugerville upon their marriage, they soon welcomed God’s first miraculous gift of a child, their daughter Noah, into their lives. The woman who was said to be barren, as the cost of robbing death after her first cancer, brought a beautiful, incredible daughter into the world. A couple years later a son came, Micah, and their joy was complete.

As the kids grew, the family expanded into the community, and Hill Country Bible Church Pflugerville and the kid’s schools and activities began to feel the full impact of what it meant to have Michele around. Teachers, leaders and pastors gained a committed volunteer. Kids in her community gained a second mom who loved unreservedly.

At church, the woman who once held a sign declaring “I hate kids.” became a pillar in Children’s Ministry, finding wonder and joy at refining her understanding of her faith and helping architect and drive a new program to share those lessons with the next generation. When the Women’s Ministry needed someone to emcee retreats, Michele was it, with her big smile and sense of humor on full display. At the last women’s retreat she attended she lead the teaching, on the topic of faith - a topic she had many hard-won personal lessons to speak from. When the annual youth summer outreach program needed to add a new program, she was right there, co-leading, planning, and handling the details. As her kids reached teenage years, Michele moved up as well and poured her life and love into a small circle of young ladies in the youth group.

In the community, when her daughter’s recreational volleyball team needed help coaching, she signed on as assistant coach and became the heart of the team, taking a bunch of misfit “Zombie Kittens” in a league of sparkly princesses, and forged them into a sisterhood that rose to the top. When her daughter started marching band, the Pflugerville High School Panther Band learned that there was no task too small, or any idea too big, for Michele to plow into.…especially if that meant that she could stand on the sideline at halftime and cheer her daughter and her bandmates on.

Michele is survived by her husband, Matt Mangum and their two kids, Noah and Micah. She is also survived by her sister, Deena Lyssy and her brother in law Dennis of Abilene and their two daughters, Kayla (Chris) and Krysta. Her surviving sisters (in-law) are Amanda Esquivel (Tommy) of Moncks Corner, SC, Laura Moore (Michael), of Beaufort, SC and Deborah Bannan (Stewart) of Tyler, TX. She is survived by her mother in law, Sarah Mangum, who currently resides with her children. Michele is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.

The family wishes to express their deepest, most profound gratitude to the nurses of Seton Williamson and Hospice Austin Christopher House. Many of her caregivers were constantly surprised at Michele’s appreciation and desire to get to know them and in return grew to love her.

We grieve her passing deeply, as a beloved wife, mother and sister, but we will carry the memories of her love and service with us forever. Memorials may be made in honor of Michele Best Mangum to Hospice Austin Christopher House, or to Parkway Bible in Pflugerville.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cookwaldencapitalparks.com for the Mangum family.