Sara "Sally" Elizabeth Mudd

Sara “Sally” Elizabeth Mudd passed peacefully on July 31, 2026, surrounded by her family and loved ones.

Sally was born January 22, 1938, in Denton Texas, to Sara and Mark Hannah. From an early age she was full of energy, joy and a love for others. When Sally was just 6 months old her father bought her a shetland pony. As she grew, her interest in ponies increased and with the help of her father they started "Sally's Pony Farm". Using the money from the pony sales she eventually paid her father back and became sole owner in 1948, at only 11 years old. Sally's Pony Farm is an important and cherished part of her childhood. She was especially close to her “Aunt” Exa Adams. Aunt Exa was a loving and devoted Christian influence in Sally’s life, helping care and raise her after Sally lost her mother at the age of two. Sally’s faith in Jesus remained a guiding part of her growing childhood.

Sally was friendly and well-loved throughout her school years. In high school, she was a cheerleader and was voted Most Popular. She attended North Texas State University and graduated in 1959 with a Bachelors in Education. While attending North Texas she met her college sweetheart and lifelong love, Jim Mudd. They married in 1960 in California, where they both lived and taught for two years. They moved back to Texas in 1964 where she continued her teaching career. Teaching children was Sally’s lifelong passion. She dedicated her career to teaching young children, primarily kindergarten. She was known throughout Denton for "Sally's Little School". A private school that she started and ran for over 6 years. She furthered her teaching career working in Coppell and Denton public schools. She was known to be an exceptional educator who took great pride in seeing her kindergarten students graduate knowing how to read and write.

After retiring from teaching, Sally became the volunteer coordinator at Flow Hospital for several years. A job she always described as “fun” and one that never felt like work. Sally and Jim then retired to Cave Creek, Arizona, where they spent 25 wonderful years. There, Sally continued to grow in her faith, serve at her local church, work several part-time jobs, and build cherished lifelong friendships. She loved caring for her beautiful yard, floating in the pool and going on adventures with her weekly girls groups. 

In 2023, Sally and Jim returned to Denton, where she spent her final three years reconnecting with lifelong friends, former coworkers, and children she had taught. She especially treasured watching her grandson Jake play baseball and basketball. Sally will be remembered for her joyful spirit, her love of children, her devotion to Jesus, her gift for friendship, and her generous heart. She touched countless lives through her teaching, faith, and willingness to care for others.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Sara; father, Mark; Aunt Exa Adams; stepmother, Jessie; and brother, Ken Griffeth.

Sally is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years, Jim Mudd; son Mark Mudd of Callisburg; son Chad Mudd and wife, Christin; grandson Jake of Denton; sister Nancy Martinez and her children, Michael (Natalie) and Marci of Anaheim, California; and brother Mark and wife, Kathey, of Denton.

In lieu of flowers those who wish may make a memorial donation to Scottsdale Christian Academy https://scottsdalechristian.org/ or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital https://www.stjude.org/