- Date Of Birth: February 21, 1970
- Date Of Death: June 19, 2021
- State: Texas
On June 19, 2021, Amanda Muse Neuhoff (aka Mandy) passed away at the age of 51 from brain cancer. Amanda was born on February 21, 1970, in Memphis, TN to Geri and Bill Muse, Jr. She grew up in Knoxville, TN and attended the University of Georgia where she graduated with a Journalism degree in 1992.
After college and a long-distance romance, Amanda married the love of her life, Byron Neuhoff in 1994. She often referred to Byron as “the cutest invisible man she ever knew”. They settled in Atlanta, GA and Amanda pursued her life-long dream of working for the Olympics. At the young age of 26, Amanda coordinated all the volunteer workers who staffed the Centennial Olympic Park during the games. Her infectious smile and her passion for life made her a great leader of people. There was nothing she could not accomplish with her mindset.
Amanda and Byron moved to Dallas, TX in 1998 and were blessed with four fantastic children. Amanda’s career shifted to being an incredible mother who was always up for a fun adventure while also teaching her children the importance of manners, values, and the appropriate time to use a good swear word.
Amanda was also able to pick up her passion of playing tennis. She was a great competitor but more importantly she was a great sport and always exhibited exquisite manners on the court. Her tennis team was a source of friendship over the years, and she always cherished the time she was able to spend with them.
When the children were old enough, Amanda started her third career and founded a photography business with a friend from Tennessee, Missy Sprouse. The two of them brought an energy, passion, and love of life that will never be seen again. Their easy-going style allowed their subjects to relax in such a way that the joys of everyday living were captured on film and became treasures for many families.
Amanda was loved by all and feared by none. She was well known for her witty sayings that always brought a smile to your lips or somehow ended up “on a cup”. Amanda lived life “jacked up on Mountain Dew”. She was always ready to “circle up” and “pour something stiff” with her many “precious friends” if she wasn’t busy “pounding out some editing” for her photography clients.
Sometimes Amanda’s life felt like “living in a skit” especially when she got caught in a “hostage sitch”. “I’m not gonna lie”, every day was an adventure, and she was always ready to “saddle up her own horse” and “giddy up”.
Amanda knew that certain things were “not in her lane”, but she was always willing to try and often “asked for forgiveness later rather than permission first”. Where she did “shine brightest” was as a friend. Amanda “loved her people” and always wanted to “hug their necks”. She was one of “Dallas’ finest”.
Amanda’s cancer diagnosis in August of 2020 was “like a throat punch”. “Seriously”. But ever since then, her amazing family and friends “circled up”, “poured a stiff drink”, and did a lot of praying to “little baby Jesus” (that was her favorite one). You all have helped “love her out” just as she did for so many who were struggling with the loss of a parent, a friend, or a pet.
Amanda is survived by her parents Geri and Bill Muse, Jr., her husband Byron, her children Jack, Scott, Cleo, and Charlie, her sisters Whitney Webb and Shannon Baxter and their husbands Daniel Webb and John Baxter as well as her in-laws, Tommy and Judy Neuhoff and her brothers and sisters-in-law: Michelle and Stewart Thomas; Flora and Tom Neuhoff, Jr.; Pauline and Austin Neuhoff; and Jennifer and Alan Neuhoff; plus, too many nieces and nephews to mention.
There are not enough words to express the gratitude, grace, and Big Love that has been showered down upon Amanda’s family. All we can do is simply say Thank You.
