Advertisement

Jennifer Leigh Munholland

Advertisement

Jennifer Leigh Munholland

Birth
Edmond, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA
Death
May 2002 (aged 16–17)
Edmond, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA
Burial
McAlester, Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Obituaries/Death Notices
MUNHOLLAND Jennifer Leigh Munholland was born on May 4, 1985 in Edmond, Oklahoma to John Stephen Munholland and Carolyn White Munholland. She attended John Ross Elementary, Sequoyah Middle School, and Edmond North High School, where she had just completed her Junior year. She is survived by her parents, by her 12 year old little sister, Taylor Lauren Munholland, by her paternal grandparents, John and Donna Munholland of Edmond, her paternal great-grandmother, Juanita German of Edmond, her maternal uncle and aunt, Tom and Maria White of Colo. Springs, CO, her maternal cousins, Justin and Meagan White, her maternal grandparents, Quinn and Elaine Calloway of Bethany, and Tom White and Mai of Simi Valley, CA, and her maternal great-grandmother, Ruth Fry of Marion, Ohio. Also her Paternal Great Grandparents, Angus and Ruby Moss of St. George, Utah. She is also survived by more friends than anyone can count. Jennifer lived her whole life burning with a bright intensity. That brilliant flame made her the natural center of every group she belonged to, and she attracted a lot of groups. She danced gloriously in the spotlight at Star Steps for 12 years, culminating in her performing at Pom Station and as a member of the Edmond North High School Pom Squad. She was a shining presence at Henderson Hills Baptist church where she was saved and baptized on June 26, 1994. Jennifer loved her Oklahoma Sooners Football and she was excited about attending the University of Oklahoma. She was an extremely bright girl who loved reading books and writing poetry. She had the amazing ability to carry on dozens of e-mail conversations at the same time. She could be incredibly silly, but she also had her serious side. When it came to argument or debate, she was relentless and she almost always won the round. But she had the remarkable capacity to make friends from every social group in every walk of life. She touched people. She drew them out of themselves. She influenced them to become something better than they thought they could be. She made a difference in this world. With all her activities she still took the time to spend with her Poopa and Meema and Nana and Mimi, but most importantly, she was closest to "Tay" who loved her "Sissy" more than anything. Jennifer burned with a bright intensity. Today, she shines even brighter. There is a new star gleaming among the heavenly hosts, and doubtless even there she is attracting friends to her warm glow. That star is right next to the star of her loyal and devoted friend, Travis Chubbuck. A service to honor Jennifer will commence at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday June 1st at Henderson Hills Baptist. Those who wish to honor Jennifer with a visit may go to Matthews Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Jennifer Leigh Munholland Memorial Fund in care of First Commercial Bank, P.O. Box 5450, Edmond Oklahoma 73083. Services under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond. Matthews Funeral Home Locally Owned 601 S. Kelly, Edmond 341-2787
_________________________________________
May 3, 2008
Keeping Jennifer's memory alive
Family, friends dedicate statue at North High School

Patty Miller

EDMOND — Today should have been Jennifer Munholland's 23rd birthday.

Instead of celebrating her birthday, her family will remember her life with the dedication of a statue, "Story Time for Three," on North High School's campus.

On May 28, 2002, 17-year-old Jennifer was a passenger in the car that 16-year-old Travis Chubbuck was driving when they were struck by a truck. Both Jennifer and Travis lost their lives in the accident.

At noon today the City of Edmond is dedicating a statue and garden in memory of Jennifer in front of North, the school she loved so well and the place where she spent so much time participating in activities.

"We wanted a living memorial for her short, but well-lived life," said her mother, Carolyn Munholland.

Carolyn Munholland said the decision for the statue and the site was a journey in itself.

"It started out as a tree and a bench," Munholland said. "I wanted a living memorial, a place I can find a little peace and know that she was happy. So North was perfect — she loved North."

With help from the matching funds from the Visual Arts Commission and working with art gallery owner Randel Shadid, the Munholland family found the perfect statue.

Two young girls and a young boy are sitting on a bench sharing a book.

"What stood out when we were choosing a piece was that the two young girls look like Jen and her sister, Tay," Munholland said. "The young boy looks like our nephew."

The statue sculptor, Rosalind Cook from Tulsa, will attend today's dedication.

Jennifer's garden has been the product of many people who donated time and energy as well as money.

Carrie Tomlinson, Edmond's urban forester, made Jennifer's garden a project for Arbor Day in 2007.

"She arranged donations for trees, bushes, large decorative rocks, top soil and labor," Munholland said. "Oakeys Landscape, Tall Grass Environmental and Snipes Landscaping made donations. The edging of the garden was donated by the Curbing Edge in Edmond.

"A large tree was donated by Deep Tree Farms," she said. "The owners are parents at North. Our good friends, the Lyons family, donated the mulch and labor when I was running out of energy, and funds were donated by Dean Rauscher."

The family hopes the statue will be a place to come and remember their daughter and sister.

"She was there to wipe my tears on my saddest days, to hold my hand when I was scared, to share my laughter and to be the girl who is strong and truthful," said her sister, Taylor.

Her mother remembers Jennifer as perfect.

"She was human, but she was the perfect daughter, sister and friend," her mother said. "She was very honest and always tried to do the right thing. She never gave us any reason to worry. She was very thoughtful and she had a strong faith. She loved to question everything and was good at arguing her point. Things didn't always come easy to her but she was determined and worked hard.

"She was smart and serious and funny and silly. She was a sweet and gentle spirit but had strength of character to stand up and do the right thing and not be influenced by her peers."

She also loved to go to the University of Oklahoma games with her dad who remembers her as his buddy.

"Some people are born to be parents," Steve Munholland said. "I was 24 and an only child. Jennifer and I had a wonderful father and daughter relationship, but she was also my buddy."

Steve Munholland said on Taylor's first day of kindergarten, Jen and Taylor were walking home holding hands.

Six years later, Jennifer was a sophomore at North and came home early to walk Taylor home on her last day of school.

Taylor asked, "Why are you here?"

Jennifer replied, "I was here your first day of school, and I will be here your last."

Steve Munholland said as a parent that is one of his favorite moments, a time he remembers with pride.

"The world is not a better place for anyone without her in it," he said.

As Jennifer's family remembers her today, her family hopes that the statue garden will be a lasting memory for those who knew her well and a place for those who knew her only through the memories of others.

"This is one more step in our family's journey," Carolyn Munholland said. "It helps us so much for her to be remembered."

Obituaries/Death Notices
MUNHOLLAND Jennifer Leigh Munholland was born on May 4, 1985 in Edmond, Oklahoma to John Stephen Munholland and Carolyn White Munholland. She attended John Ross Elementary, Sequoyah Middle School, and Edmond North High School, where she had just completed her Junior year. She is survived by her parents, by her 12 year old little sister, Taylor Lauren Munholland, by her paternal grandparents, John and Donna Munholland of Edmond, her paternal great-grandmother, Juanita German of Edmond, her maternal uncle and aunt, Tom and Maria White of Colo. Springs, CO, her maternal cousins, Justin and Meagan White, her maternal grandparents, Quinn and Elaine Calloway of Bethany, and Tom White and Mai of Simi Valley, CA, and her maternal great-grandmother, Ruth Fry of Marion, Ohio. Also her Paternal Great Grandparents, Angus and Ruby Moss of St. George, Utah. She is also survived by more friends than anyone can count. Jennifer lived her whole life burning with a bright intensity. That brilliant flame made her the natural center of every group she belonged to, and she attracted a lot of groups. She danced gloriously in the spotlight at Star Steps for 12 years, culminating in her performing at Pom Station and as a member of the Edmond North High School Pom Squad. She was a shining presence at Henderson Hills Baptist church where she was saved and baptized on June 26, 1994. Jennifer loved her Oklahoma Sooners Football and she was excited about attending the University of Oklahoma. She was an extremely bright girl who loved reading books and writing poetry. She had the amazing ability to carry on dozens of e-mail conversations at the same time. She could be incredibly silly, but she also had her serious side. When it came to argument or debate, she was relentless and she almost always won the round. But she had the remarkable capacity to make friends from every social group in every walk of life. She touched people. She drew them out of themselves. She influenced them to become something better than they thought they could be. She made a difference in this world. With all her activities she still took the time to spend with her Poopa and Meema and Nana and Mimi, but most importantly, she was closest to "Tay" who loved her "Sissy" more than anything. Jennifer burned with a bright intensity. Today, she shines even brighter. There is a new star gleaming among the heavenly hosts, and doubtless even there she is attracting friends to her warm glow. That star is right next to the star of her loyal and devoted friend, Travis Chubbuck. A service to honor Jennifer will commence at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday June 1st at Henderson Hills Baptist. Those who wish to honor Jennifer with a visit may go to Matthews Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Jennifer Leigh Munholland Memorial Fund in care of First Commercial Bank, P.O. Box 5450, Edmond Oklahoma 73083. Services under the direction of Matthews Funeral Home, Edmond. Matthews Funeral Home Locally Owned 601 S. Kelly, Edmond 341-2787
_________________________________________
May 3, 2008
Keeping Jennifer's memory alive
Family, friends dedicate statue at North High School

Patty Miller

EDMOND — Today should have been Jennifer Munholland's 23rd birthday.

Instead of celebrating her birthday, her family will remember her life with the dedication of a statue, "Story Time for Three," on North High School's campus.

On May 28, 2002, 17-year-old Jennifer was a passenger in the car that 16-year-old Travis Chubbuck was driving when they were struck by a truck. Both Jennifer and Travis lost their lives in the accident.

At noon today the City of Edmond is dedicating a statue and garden in memory of Jennifer in front of North, the school she loved so well and the place where she spent so much time participating in activities.

"We wanted a living memorial for her short, but well-lived life," said her mother, Carolyn Munholland.

Carolyn Munholland said the decision for the statue and the site was a journey in itself.

"It started out as a tree and a bench," Munholland said. "I wanted a living memorial, a place I can find a little peace and know that she was happy. So North was perfect — she loved North."

With help from the matching funds from the Visual Arts Commission and working with art gallery owner Randel Shadid, the Munholland family found the perfect statue.

Two young girls and a young boy are sitting on a bench sharing a book.

"What stood out when we were choosing a piece was that the two young girls look like Jen and her sister, Tay," Munholland said. "The young boy looks like our nephew."

The statue sculptor, Rosalind Cook from Tulsa, will attend today's dedication.

Jennifer's garden has been the product of many people who donated time and energy as well as money.

Carrie Tomlinson, Edmond's urban forester, made Jennifer's garden a project for Arbor Day in 2007.

"She arranged donations for trees, bushes, large decorative rocks, top soil and labor," Munholland said. "Oakeys Landscape, Tall Grass Environmental and Snipes Landscaping made donations. The edging of the garden was donated by the Curbing Edge in Edmond.

"A large tree was donated by Deep Tree Farms," she said. "The owners are parents at North. Our good friends, the Lyons family, donated the mulch and labor when I was running out of energy, and funds were donated by Dean Rauscher."

The family hopes the statue will be a place to come and remember their daughter and sister.

"She was there to wipe my tears on my saddest days, to hold my hand when I was scared, to share my laughter and to be the girl who is strong and truthful," said her sister, Taylor.

Her mother remembers Jennifer as perfect.

"She was human, but she was the perfect daughter, sister and friend," her mother said. "She was very honest and always tried to do the right thing. She never gave us any reason to worry. She was very thoughtful and she had a strong faith. She loved to question everything and was good at arguing her point. Things didn't always come easy to her but she was determined and worked hard.

"She was smart and serious and funny and silly. She was a sweet and gentle spirit but had strength of character to stand up and do the right thing and not be influenced by her peers."

She also loved to go to the University of Oklahoma games with her dad who remembers her as his buddy.

"Some people are born to be parents," Steve Munholland said. "I was 24 and an only child. Jennifer and I had a wonderful father and daughter relationship, but she was also my buddy."

Steve Munholland said on Taylor's first day of kindergarten, Jen and Taylor were walking home holding hands.

Six years later, Jennifer was a sophomore at North and came home early to walk Taylor home on her last day of school.

Taylor asked, "Why are you here?"

Jennifer replied, "I was here your first day of school, and I will be here your last."

Steve Munholland said as a parent that is one of his favorite moments, a time he remembers with pride.

"The world is not a better place for anyone without her in it," he said.

As Jennifer's family remembers her today, her family hopes that the statue garden will be a lasting memory for those who knew her well and a place for those who knew her only through the memories of others.

"This is one more step in our family's journey," Carolyn Munholland said. "It helps us so much for her to be remembered."


Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement