Ann Mitchell Vendig

Ann Mitchell Vendig, age 70, died in comfort and peace at her home on February 17, 2014 after a 33-month battle with pancreatic cancer. She spent the last days of her life surrounded by loved ones and sharing in her passions of music and art. Ann was born in Paragould, Arkansas on June 12, 1943 to Ralph and Grace Ellen Mitchell who preceded her in death. While a child in Paragould, she used her gift of baton twirling to perform in the movie classic, "A Face in the Crowd". She also twirled in the Sugar Bowl in 1962 and 1963 while attending the University of Arkansas. After graduating, she married Philip Higginbotham, lived overseas in the Philippines, where their first child, a daughter Cary Higginbotham Hart was born. While in the Philippines, she traveled extensively in India and Japan. Shortly after returning to the United States, their second child was born, Philip Higginbotham III, and she settled in Spartanburg, South Carolina where she was active in volunteer activities especially the Girl Scouts of America. In 1984, Ann moved with her two children to Dallas, Texas where she met the love of her life, Lee D. "Tom" Vendig. Ann and Tom travelled the world extensively, spent significant time with their 12 grandchildren, the joys of her life. She was also active in the Dallas charity community including service as Chair of the YMCA Community Services Board, President of the Lawyers Wives, and chaired fundraisers for the Dallas Opera Guild. She was presented with the Golden Owl Award reflecting 50-years of active service to the Chi Omega sorority. The family wants to recognize her caregivers and doctors at Baylor University Medical Center, especially Dr. Daniel DeMarco, Dr. Andrew McCollum, and Dr. Jeffrey Lamont. They were tireless, selfless, and vital to her quality and length of life. She is survived by her first husband, Philip Higginbotham, his wife Marta, and her children from that marriage, Cary Higginbotham Hart and her children Hunter and Savannah; Philip Higginbotham III, his wife Jodi and their son Holden. She is also survived by her loving husband, Lee D. Vendig and his children; Celia Chavarria and her husband Cruz, their children Joe, Jake, Abbie and Allie; Gayle Vendig; Cricket Tarrant and her husband David, their children Marlee and Zachary; Lee D. Vendig II and his son Luke, Lee's wife Keely and her daughter Finley, and their son Miller. She held membership in the Dallas Opera Guild, Dallas Arboretum, Dallas Historical Society, Lawyers Wives Auxiliary, Dallas Theater Center, Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Garden, and The Stewpot Alliance. Visitation will be held at Sparkman Hillcrest on February 19 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Services will be held at Highland Park United Methodist Church on Thursday, February 20 at 1:30 p.m. with a reception to immediately follow. Contributions may be made in her memory to Baylor Healthcare System Foundation. Ann was a woman of the highest integrity with a tremendous zest for life, who was a true original.