Katherine Michelle (Gelsthorpe) Ponton

Katherine Michelle Ponton passed from this life on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 4:30 am at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.

She is survived by her husband, David Ponton; her children, Amber Hale and husband Nic Rich, Morgan Myers and husband Ty Myers, and Zack Hale; her brothers, Adrian Rios, Stephen Rios, and Michael Rios; her father, Rick Gelsthorpe and wife Eileen; her mother, Mary Rios; and her grandchildren, Nico Rich and Hayes Myers, among numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins.

She is preceded in death by her first husband, Tracy Hale, and her Aunt Moni.

Michelle was born on December 7, 1973 to Rick and Mary Gelsthorpe in El Paso, Texas. She resided in El Paso throughout her early years and attended Eastwood High School, where she
was a flag girl for the marching band. It was also here that she met and married her first husband and father of her children, Tracy Hale. Their three children were born here in December of 1992, October of 1994, and January of 1997 before they all moved to Kerrville, Texas in 2004 to be closer to Tracy’s family. Tragically, Tracy passed away in a boating accident 2 years later at Medina Lake during Easter weekend. Years later, Michelle was able to find hope and love again with David Ponton, to whom she was married to at the time of her passing.

Michelle loved nothing more than her three children to whom she was always a fierce supporter, never missing a football game, cheer competition, or track meet, and being a Mimi to her grandchildren, Nico and Hayes. She also found joy in spending her free time on the river, babysitting her grandchildren, and hosting holidays at her home, where everyone always received a warm welcome, a delicious homemade meal, and was challenged to a game of Phase 10 to end the night. Family meant absolutely everything to Michelle. Despite the trials and tribulations Michelle faced in her life, she was always, and will forever continue to be, an everlasting beacon of hope, strength, and support to her loved ones.

A memorial service will be held to honor Michelle on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 10:00 am in the sanctuary at Kerrville First United Methodist Church in Kerrville, Texas. The family
welcomes all of her friends, family, and loved ones to attend this gathering. The family asks that everyone in attendance wear Michelle’s favorite colors - teal, turquoise, forest green, or white -
to honor her memory. Please avoid black.

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