Chastidy Mellissa Meyer

Chastidy Melissa Meyer was born on November 22, 1982, in Paducah, Kentucky, to Yolanda and Randy Craig. Not long after, the family made their home in the Dallas area, where Chastidy enjoyed a truly happy childhood alongside her beloved sister, Brandie. From the very beginning, it was clear to everyone who knew her—Chastidy was special. Highly intelligent, curious,  full of spunk and fiercely independent, she had an adventurous spirit that could never be contained.

Chastidy had a deep love for travel and for the world beyond her own. She embraced new experiences with excitement and courage—she rode an elephant in Thailand, held a condor in Peru, lived through a hurricane in China, and lived in Russia, finding new friends along the way. Learning about people, traditions, and ways of life across the globe brought her genuine joy and shaped who she was at her core.

Family meant everything to Chastidy. Thanksgiving and Christmas were especially dear to her heart—times when everyone was home, together, and surrounded by love. Those moments of connection grounded her, even as her curiosity pulled her outward into the world.

A gifted scholar, Chastidy earned her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, both from The University of Texas at Arlington. She taught Science, Math, and Chemistry in Texas before deciding to teach abroad. She found that teaching was a great travel resource. She found deep fulfillment in teaching English to children and teenagers from around the world, delighting in their growth, their stories, and the relationships she built along the way. Helping others learn and succeed was not just a career for her—it was a calling.

Chastidy loved her friends fiercely and enjoyed spending time with them, laughing, celebrating, and fully embracing life. She adored pink, purple, and every color of the rainbow. The rainbow, with its beauty and symbolism, reflected her own values:  diversity, inclusion, and the belief that differences make the world more beautiful.

One of her greatest joys was being an aunt. She adored her two nieces and nephew, and they adored her right back. She poured love, laughter, and encouragement into their lives, leaving memories they will carry forever.

After a short but courageous battle with cancer, Chastidy passed away on January 4, 2026. Her strength, grace, and determination were evident until the very end.

Chastidy is survived by her loving parents, Yolanda and Randy Craig; her sister, Brandie Hernandez, and her husband, Teddy; her nieces, Alaina Gowin and Skyler McCarroll; her nephew, Logan Hernandez; her uncle, John Carman; and her grandmother, Frances Carman. She is preceded in death by her grandfather, Hershel Carman, and her grandparents, Joyce and Mark Craig.

Chastidy will be deeply missed for her spunk, her intelligence, her vibrant love of life, and her adventurous soul. Though her journey here has ended, her story does not. Those who loved her take comfort knowing her spirit continues—colorful, curious, and free.