Michelle Lower Rayburn

Michelle Lower Rayburn, 41, loving wife, devoted mother, cherished only daughter to her parents, outstanding friend and light to all who knew her, died February 10, 2023 at her home where she was in hospice care following a courageous battle with colon cancer since mid-2019. Michelle was born May 20,1981, in Singapore to Gary Dean Lower and Jessica Murphy Lower. She is survived by her husband Jacob, sons Garrett, 9, twins Jackson and Thomas 7, of Fulshear, Texas, and her parents, Gary and Jessica Lower of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by her father and mother-in-law, Gary and Becky Rayburn of Tomball, Texas, by her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Nathan and Jamie Reich, and was a special Aunt Mimi for her niece and nephew, Emma and Nolan Reich, all of Pinehurst, Texas, and by other extended Rayburn and Lower families Michelle’s early life was full of travel and adventure, due to her father’s working in the international oil and gas business. From Singapore, she moved with her mother and father to Bangkok, Thailand for 4 years, and then on to Stavanger, Norway, for 2 years. She attended kindergarten in Norway. Then she moved to Wassenaar, The Netherlands, for 5 years, where she attended first into sixth grade at the American School of the Hague. She was able to travel to and learn much about Europe while in Holland. In 1992, Michelle had her first taste of living in the USA when she moved to North Tustin, California and attended Hewes Middle School to finish sixth grade and complete her eighth grade. She met one of her oldest friends there. In 1995 she moved to Bakersfield, California for one year and attended Garces Memorial High School her freshman year. Following that, she moved to Richmond, and then Sugar Land, Texas, where she graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 2019. She then went on to Santa Clara University in California where she received a degree in Marketing in 2003 as an honor student, where she made some close friendships that she has had for the rest of her life. After college graduation, Michelle returned to Houston, Texas, where her parents were living, and found a job in marketing with Starwood Hotel Group at the St. Regis, in Houston. She advanced her career in many sales positions with Starwood and other hotels, and later joined Helms Briscoe as an event coordinator that dealt with many different clients and hotels worldwide, in a job she really excelled at. It was in Houston where Michelle met the love of her life, Jacob Rayburn. They grew deeply in love with each other, and they were married in Houston, Texas, on October 10, 2009, at the Rainbow Lodge. After the wedding, they spent their honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas. Jacob was in the homebuilding business and in the ensuing year, they built a new home in Katy, Texas, at a new subdivision that he was involved with. They moved there in 2010. It was in Katy that Michelle continued her hospitality career with Starwood and Jacob continued in the homebuilding business and earned his degree in Business from the University of Houston. It was also where Michelle had her first child, Garrett, in 2014, as she continued her career. In 2015, Jacob and Michelle also welcomed twin boys, Jackson and Thomas to the family. Due to the need for a larger home for the growing family, she and Jacob moved to Fulshear, Texas, before the birth of the twins, and that is where they have lived ever since. The boys really love their school and have plenty of school and play mates there. While the boys attended pre-k at a couple of schools in Fulshear, they are now all at the same Huggins elementary school. Michelle developed many close work and community related friends since getting married and while living in Fulshear. She has been a bright star since she was born, and developed into a beautiful, intelligent, warm, caring and amazing woman. Her love of life, generous heart, and her beautiful smile have made it easy to make her a friend to all she met, and she will be deeply missed by those who knew her. She was a grounded and genuine friend to so many. We are grateful to God for the time that we have had with Michelle. We saw God’s grace in the way she faced this most difficult time and know that His love sustained her and will continue to sustain those who knew her. A Celebration of Life service for Michelle will be held at: Current – A Christian Church, 26600 Westheimer Parkway, Katy, Texas 77494 on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. There will be a reception for friends neighbors and relatives of the family immediately following the service. There also be a Holy Rosary on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 6:30 P.M. at Dettling Funeral Home, 14094 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77079.

Michelle Lower Rayburn

May 20, 1981 - February 10, 2023