Brenda Gaddy passed away on Saturday January 20, 2024, at the age of 75. Brenda was the seventh child in the family of Francis and Ruby Marshall. She was born and raised in McKinney, Texas. During her childhood, she lived and worked on cotton farms in Collin County. She always told stories about dragging cotton sacks down the rows picking cotton to earn enough money to buy a large doll. She moved to the town of McKinney in junior high school and enjoyed being able to run around town with her friends and family.  She graduated from McKinney High School in 1966. She was a member of the Church of Christ and lived with the Lord in her heart her entire life.

Brenda was introduced to John Gaddy by her niece Francis in the summer of 1963 at a church service. While John was a little rough around the edges, she tamed him down and soon fell in love. They dated through high school. Brenda and John were married on December 23,1965. John was soon off to serve his country, and they made their home in Garland, Texas. They had two sons, David in 1970 and Brian in 1972. They moved several times before setting down roots in Savoy, Texas where they lived for 39 years and raised their children.

Brenda worked for State Farm Insurance after graduating high school and became a fulltime mom when David and Brian were born. Probably the hardest job of her life was making sure her boys were raised right. She started working at Savoy ISD in 1985 and was employed there for 16 years. She originally took the position at Savoy Schools to keep an eye on David and Brian, but soon grew to love working with special education kids as an aid. She touched the lives of so many children and loved helping them learn. She eventually moved to the business office helping to keep the school running smoothly. One of her favorite duties was being the Beta Club co-sponsor with Annette Cooper. These two ladies ran concession stands with a passion to be able to take the high achieving students at Savoy High School to the yearly Beta Club State Convention. Their students ran for state offices and performed in talent shows, and they loved helping make it happen. Brenda retired in 2001. Since retirement, John and Brenda have enjoyed traveling, spending time with family, and being a proud Nannie and Grandpa to their grand kids and great grand kids.

Surviving is her husband, John Gaddy of Sherman; sons, David Gaddy and his wife Melanie of Savoy; Brian Gaddy and his wife Tammie of Alva, Okla.; brother, Bill Marshall of Princeton; sisters, Barbara Miller of Kingston, Okla., Sharon Kondrat of Whitesboro. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Mandy Gerrald her husband Stephen and their kids Jesse, Shepherd, Gracie, and Rosalie of Paris; Kevin Gaddy of Savoy; Landry Gaddy of Alva, Okla; and Lakin Gaddy of Alva, Okla. She also leaves behind many friends and her family in Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents Francis and Ruby Marshall, sisters Lenora McCord, Lou Edna Wiley, brother Jack Marshall.

In lieu of plants or flowers, please donate to the Savoy ISD Beta Club. Make checks payable to:

Savoy Beta Club in care of Savoy ISD
302 W. Hayes, Savoy, TX 75479