Anita Mancini Remembered: Katy Community Honors Cowgirl Mentor, KCM Leader and Founder of ‘Heart of the Cowgirl’ Scholarship
Katy is saying goodbye to a woman whose fingerprints are quietly woven throughout the community.
Anita Dawn Mancini — mentor, volunteer, board leader, wife, mother and “Heart of the Cowgirl” — was remembered February 7 at Katy Bible Church during a Celebration of Life that reflected the way she lived: grounded in faith, family and service. She passed away January 26, 2026, at age 58, surrounded by those she loved.
For more than two decades, Mancini invested herself in organizations that many Katy families know well — from Katy Christian Ministries (KCM) and its Crisis Center to the Katy Cowgirls mounted drill team. Her work strengthened teen mentorship, crisis response services, community outreach programs and youth leadership development across Katy ISD.
Her absence will be felt — but her impact remains visible.
22 Years of Service at Katy Christian Ministries and the Crisis Center
For 22 years, Anita Mancini served Katy Christian Ministries with steady dedication. She devoted thousands of volunteer hours to the KCM Crisis Center, responding to hotline calls, accompanying survivors to hospitals and teaching prevention education through the Expect Respect curriculum at the Krause Center.
As a survivor of abuse herself, she brought lived empathy to the work.
Colleagues describe her as thoughtful, dependable and deeply committed to KCM’s mission of supporting families in crisis across the Katy area. In 2017, she joined the KCM Board of Directors, serving until 2025 when she stepped away due to health concerns. During her time on the board, she served on multiple committees and held leadership roles including Vice President of the Board and Parliamentarian.
She also spearheaded KCM’s Breakfast of Champions program, leading the initiative for seven years and helping it grow into a well-supported community event that strengthened local engagement and awareness.
Her leadership was recognized beyond the organization. The Katy Chamber of Commerce honored her service, and she was named one of Katy Magazine’s Top 100 Women of the Year — acknowledgments that reflected what many in Katy already knew.
Katy Christian Ministries shared in a public statement: “Today we remember and honor Anita Mancini, whose 22 years of service and dedication made a meaningful difference at Katy Christian Ministries and within the Crisis Center.”
They continued, “As a survivor of abuse, she brought empathy, understanding, and compassion to her work, offering steady support to those navigating crisis.”
Reflecting on her board leadership, KCM added, “She was thoughtful, dependable, and always focused on supporting KCM's mission and the people served. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her and worked alongside her.”
For many families who walked through the doors of the Crisis Center, her impact may never be publicly known — but it was deeply personal.
The Heart Behind the Katy Cowgirls
Long before scholarship funds and formal honors, Anita Mancini was simply “Director.”
In 2002, she stepped into leadership of the Katy Cowgirls — a mounted drill team rooted in a tradition that began in 1943 at the first Katy ISD rodeo. Under her guidance, the Cowgirls evolved beyond rodeo pageantry into a mentorship-driven, service-oriented organization.
She believed riding in formation was only part of the story.
In a 2022 interview about the Katy Cowgirls’ outreach work, Mancini explained their mission clearly: “It’s not about showing off in their sparkly outfits. It’s about sharing their horse, the warmth and love of the animal with others, especially those who haven’t been able to or can’t experience it.”
Under her leadership, the Cowgirls launched community initiatives including:
- A Big Sister, Little Sister mentorship program
- Pony Parades at nursing homes and assisted living facilities
- Special Children’s Day events
- Volunteer service at local nonprofits including Katy Christian Ministries
She emphasized discipline, character and responsibility. “They are so disciplined because they are responsible for the care of their horse and it requires so much dedication that it creates in them a work ethic to reach their goals,” she said.
For many Katy families, the Katy Cowgirls were not just a team — they were a formative experience shaped by Anita’s belief in grit, service and heart.
Family, Faith and a Fearless Spirit
Born November 10, 1967, in Leadville, Colorado, during a snowstorm, Anita grew up climbing trees in East Texas and never lost her adventurous streak. She was known for her mechanical mind, quick wit and unfiltered honesty.
Her obituary captured her perspective on life in her own words:
“It does not matter what day, month or year that I have gone to my Father's house, I would not regret this life, not even a day, with my family and loved ones.”
She closed with a message that reflects the way many in Katy now remember her:
“Love Life, Be Brave.”
She married Gary on July 15, 1994, in a handmade dress. Together they built a life centered on family, raising two children and celebrating seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Faith guided her daily life, and she remained deeply rooted in the Katy community she loved.
“She lived in Katy, Texas for the better years of her life and she loved this community openly,” her obituary reads.
The Anita Mancini Heart of the Cowgirl Scholarship
Her legacy now rides forward through the newly established Anita Mancini Heart of the Cowgirl Scholarship Fund, created by her family and the Katy Cowgirls.
The scholarship honors graduating seniors who participated in the Katy Cowgirls and/or the Katy High School FFA Chapter and who plan to continue their education in college. It recognizes students who demonstrate commitment, academic standing, leadership and strong character — qualities Anita championed.
According to the scholarship description, it was created to honor a woman who devoted over 20 years as Director of the Katy Cowgirls, “pouring her heart, soul, and unwavering belief into every girl she led.”
Donations to the scholarship are tax deductible and can be made at secure.givelively.org/donate/katy-cowgirls-inc
What Her Legacy Means for Katy
In Katy — where youth organizations, churches and nonprofits form the backbone of community life — leaders like Anita Mancini often work behind the scenes.
She answered crisis calls. She mentored teenagers. She built programs. She showed up consistently.
Her work strengthened organizations that support domestic violence survivors, mentor young women, promote leadership in Katy ISD and build faith-centered community connections.
And now, her story becomes part of Katy’s ongoing story. “Today and forever, she runs free.”
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.