Michael Allen Mooneyhan and Melissa Lee Mooneyhan, both passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2015 in Nashville. Michael was born on May 30, 1986 in Nashville, the son of the late Gerald (Jerry) Mooneyhan and Patricia (Litchford) Wester. Melissa was born on October 26, 1985 in Little Rock, AR, the daughter of William Chambers, Jr.(Doc) and Shelly Kesterson.
Michael worked at Walmart and Melissa was a homemaker. Melissa and Michael loved their family very much, family and friends were very important to them. They both loved music, Michael loved video games and Melissa loved art.
Michael was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Mooneyhan; grandfather, James Litchford, and was joined in heaven by his wife, Melissa. Melissa was joined in heaven by her husband, Michael; and her grandparents, William Earl Chambers, Sr. and Marjorie Helen Chambers, one stepbrother, Jeremy Edwards, brother, Michael Pennington also preceded her in death.
Michael is survived by his daughter, Emily Marie Mooneyhan of Nashville; his mother and his stepfather, Patricia Wester and David Wester of Mineral Springs; one stepbrother, Russell Wester of Horatio; Uncle, Danny Litchford and wife, Brenda Litchford of Horatio; his grandmother, Wanda Litchford of Mineral Springs and cousin, Stacy Dowdy and husband, Wes of Dierks.
Melissa is survived by her daughter, Emily Marie Mooneyhan of Nashville; father, William Chambers, Jr. of Nashville; mother and stepfather, Shelly Kesterson and husband, Charles and their daughter, Serenity of Dierks; grandparents, Jimmie Eslinger and Cora Eslinger, and Ina Lambert; brothers, Jonathan Chambers of Nashville, William Earl Chambers III(Buddy), James Wilborn, David Wilborn, and Ryan Weston; sisters, Jamie Wilborn, Tammie Burton and husband, Josh and their daughter, Larissa; Ruth Trimble and husband, T’Otis and their daughters, Olivia and Miya; and Laura S. Eslinger; stepsisters, Chasity Ward, and Kortney Ward; Aunt, Marjorie Ruth Lively and husband, Robert Lively and their son, Dewey William Lively, and Vickie Chambers and husband, Robert and their children, Gloria Chambers, Jessica Dixon and Kimberly Granger and husband, James.
Graveside services will be held 10:00 AM, Thursday, May 14, 2015 at Ozan Cemetery in Bingen with Brother Keith Mays officiating,
_________________________________
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Melissa and Michael Mooneyhan met as high school students and quickly fell in love. The two were married in 2004, even before they graduated.
More than a decade later, the pair died shielding their young daughter from a tornado as the twister chewed up the family's mobile home in Nashville, Arkansas, authorities said.
The home looked "like it had exploded," said Howard County Coroner John Gray, who called the little girl's survival "a miracle." Rescuers who found the family believe the couple perished while desperately trying to protect their child.
When search crews lifted a piece of trailer debris, they found the girl squatting between her parents' bodies, awake and teary.
"I don't think she had nearly a scratch on her," said Howard County Emergency Management Coordinator Sonny Raulerson. "There wasn't enough room for her to even stand up. But she didn't try to crawl out. I don't think she wanted to leave her mama."
The Mooneyhans were among five people killed Sunday after a line of powerful tornadoes battered several small communities in Texas and Arkansas. Three people died in Texas. Scores of others were hurt, some critically.
The child, about 18 months old, was taken to the hospital and later released to relatives.
The pair died shielding their young daughter from a tornado as the twister chewed up the family's mobile home in Nashville, Arkansas, authorities said.
"That poor little girl is never going to know them," Gray added. "But she's young enough that she'll never remember what happened."
Polly McCammack, who also lives in Nashville, is Melissa's third cousin. A week ago, she said, the close-knit family lost their grandmother who "practically raised" Melissa and her siblings.
"The family has been hit hard. They're strong, but it's almost like to the point you're afraid to breathe," McCammack said.
Michael Mooneyhan worked in the deli department of the local Wal-Mart. Melissa was a stay-at-home mom doting on their daughter.
"That baby was definitely their life. They considered her their greatest blessing. You couldn't find two parents who loved a child more," McCammack said. "She's going to grow up knowing family and knowing love."
Family members went to the site of the destroyed home the next day looking for mementos, toys and anything else they could salvage for the child, McCammack said.
— The Associated Press
First published May 12th 2015, 2:35 pm
Michael Allen Mooneyhan and Melissa Lee Mooneyhan, both passed away on Sunday, May 10, 2015 in Nashville. Michael was born on May 30, 1986 in Nashville, the son of the late Gerald (Jerry) Mooneyhan and Patricia (Litchford) Wester. Melissa was born on October 26, 1985 in Little Rock, AR, the daughter of William Chambers, Jr.(Doc) and Shelly Kesterson.
Michael worked at Walmart and Melissa was a homemaker. Melissa and Michael loved their family very much, family and friends were very important to them. They both loved music, Michael loved video games and Melissa loved art.
Michael was preceded in death by his father, Jerry Mooneyhan; grandfather, James Litchford, and was joined in heaven by his wife, Melissa. Melissa was joined in heaven by her husband, Michael; and her grandparents, William Earl Chambers, Sr. and Marjorie Helen Chambers, one stepbrother, Jeremy Edwards, brother, Michael Pennington also preceded her in death.
Michael is survived by his daughter, Emily Marie Mooneyhan of Nashville; his mother and his stepfather, Patricia Wester and David Wester of Mineral Springs; one stepbrother, Russell Wester of Horatio; Uncle, Danny Litchford and wife, Brenda Litchford of Horatio; his grandmother, Wanda Litchford of Mineral Springs and cousin, Stacy Dowdy and husband, Wes of Dierks.
Melissa is survived by her daughter, Emily Marie Mooneyhan of Nashville; father, William Chambers, Jr. of Nashville; mother and stepfather, Shelly Kesterson and husband, Charles and their daughter, Serenity of Dierks; grandparents, Jimmie Eslinger and Cora Eslinger, and Ina Lambert; brothers, Jonathan Chambers of Nashville, William Earl Chambers III(Buddy), James Wilborn, David Wilborn, and Ryan Weston; sisters, Jamie Wilborn, Tammie Burton and husband, Josh and their daughter, Larissa; Ruth Trimble and husband, T’Otis and their daughters, Olivia and Miya; and Laura S. Eslinger; stepsisters, Chasity Ward, and Kortney Ward; Aunt, Marjorie Ruth Lively and husband, Robert Lively and their son, Dewey William Lively, and Vickie Chambers and husband, Robert and their children, Gloria Chambers, Jessica Dixon and Kimberly Granger and husband, James.
Graveside services will be held 10:00 AM, Thursday, May 14, 2015 at Ozan Cemetery in Bingen with Brother Keith Mays officiating,
_________________________________
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Melissa and Michael Mooneyhan met as high school students and quickly fell in love. The two were married in 2004, even before they graduated.
More than a decade later, the pair died shielding their young daughter from a tornado as the twister chewed up the family's mobile home in Nashville, Arkansas, authorities said.
The home looked "like it had exploded," said Howard County Coroner John Gray, who called the little girl's survival "a miracle." Rescuers who found the family believe the couple perished while desperately trying to protect their child.
When search crews lifted a piece of trailer debris, they found the girl squatting between her parents' bodies, awake and teary.
"I don't think she had nearly a scratch on her," said Howard County Emergency Management Coordinator Sonny Raulerson. "There wasn't enough room for her to even stand up. But she didn't try to crawl out. I don't think she wanted to leave her mama."
The Mooneyhans were among five people killed Sunday after a line of powerful tornadoes battered several small communities in Texas and Arkansas. Three people died in Texas. Scores of others were hurt, some critically.
The child, about 18 months old, was taken to the hospital and later released to relatives.
The pair died shielding their young daughter from a tornado as the twister chewed up the family's mobile home in Nashville, Arkansas, authorities said.
"That poor little girl is never going to know them," Gray added. "But she's young enough that she'll never remember what happened."
Polly McCammack, who also lives in Nashville, is Melissa's third cousin. A week ago, she said, the close-knit family lost their grandmother who "practically raised" Melissa and her siblings.
"The family has been hit hard. They're strong, but it's almost like to the point you're afraid to breathe," McCammack said.
Michael Mooneyhan worked in the deli department of the local Wal-Mart. Melissa was a stay-at-home mom doting on their daughter.
"That baby was definitely their life. They considered her their greatest blessing. You couldn't find two parents who loved a child more," McCammack said. "She's going to grow up knowing family and knowing love."
Family members went to the site of the destroyed home the next day looking for mementos, toys and anything else they could salvage for the child, McCammack said.
— The Associated Press
First published May 12th 2015, 2:35 pm
