Christie Eileen Winkler

February 03,1975 – November 04, 2020

Christie was born at 9:51 PM at the Citizens Memorial Hospital in Victoria, Texas with Richard C. Allen, MD attending.  She was 6 pounds, 14 ounces and the only child of Ron and Jan (Flowers) Winkler. That is where the usual obituary ends.

She grew to be as sensitive and fiery as her deep red hair clearly declared that she may; she could be a mystery.  Mark Twain wrote: “While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats.”  I’m not certain what that means but I’m inclined to believe that it is true.  It is said that redheads are an endangered species and now that she leaves us so soon, it seems that this is true.  We are left sitting forlornly with Charlie Brown muttering, “I can’t get that Little Red-Haired Girl out of my mind.”

Christie was also left handed and, according to many psychologists, that tends to develop personalities who are used to putting up with challenges and makes them more independent.  These traits were absolutely strong with her.  She was strong-willed, determined, and driven to prove herself capable.  Most of her employers hired her and quickly promoted her to positions of higher responsibilities and trust.

More than anything else, Christie was a Mother who deeply loved and intensely sought to care for and protect her children.  Ty Giddens (age 26) and Emily Giddens (age 21) have to lose her far too soon but the legacy of her love for them will be much too strong to leave them empty and alone.  Some blessings are defined more by intensity than longevity; her children are extremely blessed.  Ty lives with his wife, Magen in Alvin, Texas and works as an auto mechanic in Webster.  Emily Lives in Houston and will attend the University of Houston as a junior next Spring semester.

Christie attended the First Unitarian Universalist Church of Houston.  She was a champion of hurting, oppressed, and badly treated persons and routinely reached out to people in their struggles.  She was a giver of food and baked goods, advocacy, and financial offerings to people whom she felt needed help through their hardships.  As intensely as she promoted the cause of victims, she furiously assailed their tormentors.  We will always remember with pride her compulsion to deliver relief to those who suffer.

Just days after Thanksgiving 2018, Christie was diagnosed with stage four cancer.  She was told that her life expectancy was two years and that her care would be palliative rather than curative.  After going through the range of emotions that such news gives, Christie set herself to meet the reality.  There is no way to quantify the pride we have in the response that Christie gave to the fight against her disease.  She was determined to hold back the disease as hard as she could, to live her life as fully as she could, to support her medical providers as well as she could, and to encourage her fellow patients as enthusiastically as she could.  At the end, her pain and lingering struggle still could not quench her quiet grace.  Christie was joined in her struggle by her companion, Lacey Samples, who gave care, support, and companionship throughout.  Early afternoon on November 04, 2020, Christie opened her eyes and looked at her mother who told her, “It’s ok to go, Baby.”  Christie closed her eyes and expired.

Our family wishes to extend, on Christie’s behalf, our sincere thanks to all the numerous doctors, nurses, and staff of Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center and also Houston Hospice Red Team who provided care and support throughout her journey.  Our appreciation and respect for all of you will never end.

Christie found an anonymous writing somewhere and wanted to share it with everyone who is left hurting by her loss:

“To the living, I am gone.  To the sorrowful, I will never return.  To the angry, I was cheated.  But, to the happy, I am at peace.  And to the faithful, I have never left.  I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.  So, as you stand upon a shore, gazing at a beautiful sea – remember me.  As you look in awe at a mighty forest and its grand majesty – remember me.  As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity – remember me.  Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, your memories of the times we loved, the times we cried, the times we fought, the times we laughed.

For, if you always think of me,

I will never be gone.”

 

Christie requested that any memorials be made to The Rose Center for Breast Health Excellence.

https://www.therose.org/