Kaylee Brooke Maddux

Kaylee Brooke Maddux, 24, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday April 5th, 2019 after losing a battle with depression.

Kaylee was born on May 19th, 1994 in Laguna Hills, California to Gary and Nancy Maddux. She grew up alongside her siblings, Tiana, Madison, and Garrett. As a child, Kaylee developed her love of animals of all shapes and sizes through her collection of pet lizards, iguanas, insects, and exploration of nature. Kaylee cultivated her musical abilities by playing the flute in the Courtland and Timberview High School marching bands. She graduated from Timberview High School in Mansfield, TX in 2012. Kaylee received her Bachelors of Science degree in Sociology from Texas A&M University, graduating with the class of 2016. She was a member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Band and proudly played her piccolo as the band marched on Kyle Field each halftime. While attending Texas A&M, Kaylee pursued her lifelong dream of working with animals by completing internships at SeaWorld, Caldwell Zoo, and Pride Rock Wildlife Refuge. After graduation, Kaylee started her career as a zookeeper at Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels, TX, where she cared for many animals, including otters, monkeys, exotic cats, and her favorite Red-Ruffed Lemur, Ruby.

Kaylee married Jacob Martindale on November 19th, 2017 and relocated to Savannah, Georgia until accepting a zookeeper position at Panther Ridge Conservation Center. Kaylee found immense joy in working with endangered big cats and poured her heart and soul into caring for her animals.

Kaylee loved spending time with her family, especially through camping trips and adventures on the family boat. She was an avid surfer, tuber, and wakeboarder. Kaylee spent her free time ice-skating, caring for her dog Savannah, and capturing the beauty around her through photography.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Jacob Martindale, parents, Gary and Nancy Maddux, sisters, Tiana Maddux and Madison Maddux, brother, Garrett Maddux, grandparents, Gary Maddux Sr., Virginia Dekay, Ken and Patricia Nason, and aunts and uncles, Nick and Leslie Nason, Troy Nason, Tressa and Zsolt Rebek-Nagy, Natalie and Mickey Price, Nicole and Mac Nabours, and Bobbie Jo and Matthew Shoemake.

Kaylee’s memorial service will take place on Saturday, April 13th at 2:00 pm at Lucas Funeral Home and Cremation Services at 1601 South Main Street in Keller, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, please support Kaylee’s passion for animals by donating to Pride Rock Wildlife Refuge or your favorite animal conservation effort. Donations can be made at priderock.org/donate.

As a tribute to Kaylee, her family hopes that being open about her death will help lift the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide. Her family will continue to share her story in order to honor her memory and her life. You have worth. You have value. You are loved.

National Suicide Prevention Hotline:
1-800-273-8255
suicidepreventionlifeline.org