Jo Lei Henniger.

Jo Lei will be remembered by family and friends as a big black hat, a beautiful smile, a Texas twang that went on for miles, and miles and a heart as big as the Texas sky.  She will be remembered as a mother who loved fiercely.  She will be remembered as a sister who teased and tormented.  She will be remembered as a daughter with a heart of gold.  When she laughed, the world seemed brighter.  Her momma and daddy pulled her name out of a hat, and they had no idea that they had exactly the perfect name for their bold, fun-loving, spunky as hell daughter!

Jo Lei was born in Brady, Texas on October 1, 1982 to Lee and Paula Miller. She was raised in Richland Springs, Texas, and graduated from Richland Springs High School in 2001.  She was as tough as a boot, and could always be found on the move.  She was a real hand, and grew up working cows with her dad and brother, riding horses, and taking on any dare that was made.  She never met a stranger, and it is hard to say whether she spent more time talking or dancing through life!  She would try to get to a broken down pickup before Clay could get to it, just so she could say she beat him to it.  She even bought herself a set of tools to get things done - she was just like that.

As an adult, Jo Lei was busy being a mom.  Creek Henniger was the truest and purest joy in her life.  He was like her little shadow. Where she was, he was.  She loved spending time with him, and her most favorite moments were spent making cookies with him and planning his next Halloween costume.  He was her pard.  She loved photography, and could often be found driving backroads with Creek, looking for old barns to snap pictures of.

Jo Lei lived life, and she loved life.  She lived in the moment, and treated every moment for the gift that it is.  She was a giver in the most honest sense of the word. If Jo Lei touched your life, you knew the beauty of a rare spirit that is just good.  We will feel her warmth on a sunny day, feel her humor when we have a big old belly laugh, and feel her joy when we hear a song on the radio that makes us smile.  We will remind ourselves to give a little more, love a little harder, and dance a little more often.

Jo Lei is survived by her son, Creek Henniger, and the daughter that she loved as her own, Audey Jo Henniger.  She is also survived by her parents, Lee and Paula Miller, one brother Clayton Miller, and one sister Shawna Garrett and husband Curt, a niece and nephew that she adored, Payton and McCall Garrett.  She will be remembered well.