Melinda Hyer Garrett, “Aunt Mel,” was born March 19, 1952. She passed away September 30, 2017. She graduated in 1970 from Bellaire High School and was a longtime Bellaire resident. Melinda served Houston public education for nearly 30 years. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Texas Women’s University and was hired as a kindergarten teacher in HISD in 1976. After earning a master’s degree in accounting from the University of Houston-Clear Lake two years later, she became a certified public accountant with the audit division of KPMG Peat Marwick. She returned to HISD in 1985. Melinda worked her way from a Houston ISD classroom as a kindergarten teacher to being the district’s controller. From 2001 until her retirement in 2012, she served with distinction as HISD’s Chief Financial Officer. For a time in 2009, while a new superintendent was being sought, Melinda served as interim superintendent.
With Melinda at the financial helm, HISD won a national award for excellence in financial management from the Council of the Great City Schools, and she earned the organization’s Bill Wise Award for distinguished service to America’s urban public schools.
Melinda was preceded in death by her parents William and Virginia Hyer and nephew William Paul Hyer.
Melinda is survived by her husband Richard H. Garrett. Also left to cherish her memory, is her twin sister Martha VanDenBossche, husband Monty, brother Bill Hyer and wife Melinda. She is also survived by her nephew Martin VanDenBossche and wife Crisabella and their children Allie, Martin and Ben, nephew Monty VanDenBossche and wife Daniele and their children Madison and Maison, niece Melissa Moorehead and husband Joseph and their children Lauren and Davin, niece Virginia Schmidt and husband Jeremiah and their children Hunter and Madelyn.
Melinda is also survived by numerous other loving family members. Regardless of her many professional accomplishments, her family always came first. Her family members will always remember her saying, “do the right thing”.
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