Family says mom's legacy will endure
Mourners too many for church sanctuary
01:09 PM CST on Sunday, March 28, 2004
FARMERSVILLE – There weren't many in this small town who knew Rachelle O'Neil Tolleson well, but those close to her say her world revolved around a little girl named Avery.
On Saturday, family, friends and residents packed into First Baptist Church in Farmersville for Ms. Tolleson's funeral to remember the woman whom many described as shy to the outside world and completely devoted to her role as a mother.
The church sanctuary can seat about 300. Once that was full, about 250 more people watched a broadcast of the ceremony in the adjacent church gymnasium.
In the days since Ms. Tolleson's slaying, her parents, Mark and Pam O'Neil, and her husband, Andrew Tolleson, have focused on not only raising 6-month-old Avery as her mother wanted, but on passing on her memory, said longtime family friend Ana Allen.
Ms. Tolleson, 20, disappeared from her home March 18, and her body was found Tuesday. Former high school classmate Moises Sandoval Mendoza, 20, is accused of killing her.
Her family has declined interviews since her body was found, but Mr. Tolleson released a statement Saturday.
"I can't begin to describe Rachelle. Even though we were split up, we still continued to be there for Avery," Mr. Tolleson said in the statement.
"I love her with all my heart. I will always remember her. I will make certain Avery will get to know her mom, even though she's not here."
With a suspect behind bars, the family is beginning to think about Avery's future and passing on her mother's legacy, Ms. Allen said.
"They want Avery to have a wonderful life," Ms. Allen said. "I know Mark, Pam and Andrew will not let her forget who her mom was."
The family spent the latter part of the week poring through pictures and memories. They recalled Ms. Tolleson's unique likes and dislikes.
Ms. Allen said Ms. O'Neil recalls fondly how she and her daughter would give each other pedicures.
She loved Christmas music, which was in her CD player year-round.
In his statement, Mr. Tolleson said Avery would know how special that holiday was to her mother.
"I'll play videos of her at Christmas, because that was her favorite time of year. You could always tell how she would get excited. And I feel like Avery will be the same way."
Despite her young age, she enjoyed the melodic harmonies of the 1970s duo The Carpenters.
She hated carnations because they reminded her of funerals.
Until last year, Ms. Tolleson still played with her childhood Barbie dolls. She liked to dress them and play with their hair.
And she loved lavender.
After the funeral Saturday, the O'Neils released lavender-colored balloons from their front yard, each attached with handwritten notes to Ms. Tolleson.
In memory of Ms. Tolleson, residents have tied light purple ribbons around street signs, lampposts, car antennas and trees throughout Farmersville. Several U.S. flags are flying at half-staff.
Kaysie Cowan Pitre, a friend who tied a ribbon on her car antenna, recalled the young mother's glow.
"I remember that every time I saw her, she had a huge smile on her face," Ms. Pitre said. "Her daughter was her life. She loved Avery more than anyone could love anyone else, and she would have done anything for her."
That devotion is why family members doubt Mr. Mendoza's story, which was described in court records filed by police. He said Ms. Tolleson willingly left her house, according to court documents. The documents say he indicated the two had a relationship.
But authorities believe the disarray of furniture in the house, groceries left in her car and Avery alone in the house show Ms. Tolleson was abducted.
"She was a little fighter, and we know that whoever did this to her, she fought, especially with that baby there. She would never let anyone hurt Avery," Ms. Allen said.
Ms. Tolleson barely knew Mr. Mendoza, several friends said. She and Mr. Tolleson attended Farmersville High School with him, but were not friends.
"He was an acquaintance, but they did not really know him. They didn't run in the same crowd," Ms. Allen said. "They might have been at the same parties, but they did not have any kind of a friendship going on."
Before her death, Ms. Tolleson had begun thinking about her future. She and Mr. Tolleson were separated. Friend Brad Blakemore said their problems were not serious, calling them "times that any couple goes through."
Recently, Ms. Tolleson had talked about going back to school and becoming a teacher. She had found a hobby in scrapbooking and was working on a baby book for Avery.
Ms. Tolleson, called Chelle or Chelle Belly by family, was petite at about 5-feet-2-inches and 110 pounds. When she was pregnant, her family teased her because as her belly grew, her waddle became more accentuated.
Avery, who shares the middle name of Lynne with her mother, looks like Ms. Tolleson as a baby. Combing through pictures last week, family members often mistook photos of Ms. Tolleson for her daughter, Ms. Allen said.
She described Avery as a happy baby, who plays with toys while sitting in her carrier. Her light brown, wispy hair is not quite long enough for a barrette.
And soon, she'll start rolling over, a feat her mother looked forward to witnessing.
Staff writer Tiara M. Ellis contributed to this report.
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