(McQueeney) — A mother of six small children will be remembered this weekend by friends and customers at a local tavern. A benefit fundraiser is being planned this Sunday for SeVannah Shay Mata, 28, who was killed during a head-on collision early Sunday morning in northern Guadalupe County. Mata, who worked at Boot Scootin in McQueeney, is being supported by customers and management who have teamed together to help raise money for her family.
After learning the news of her tragic death, Bar Manager Sabrina Nylund says folks quickly mobilized to pull something together this weekend.
“What’s heartwarming to me is it’s the customers that banded together. It’s the customers that have put this whole thing together. They were like hey, let me do this and you know one is talking to me and another one hears, ‘oh, I am going to do this too’ and ‘I’m going to do this’ and it just got of grew because the little bit of time that we were open, that she worked here, she did make an impact and people immediately jumped in and want to help. The biggest drive is honoring her and her babies,” said Nylund.
Mata had just begun her job at the bar when COVID-19 struck, and the business was forced to close. However, during that short period while they were open, Nylund says Mata was still able to connect with everyone she came across. Nylund says not only was she a mother but also a former U.S. Marine. She was also on a roller derby team and enjoyed her time as a member of the New Braunfels Pinups. Nylund says no matter what Mata was involved with, she always made a lasting impression.
Memorial benefit being planned for SeVannah Shay Mata killed in car crash
“SeVannah is just a beautiful person. She’s very beautiful. She’s got the biggest heart that there is. As soon as she started, her very first day there, she’s walking around, very big bubbly personality, ‘Hi, I’m SeVannah. Who are you?’ and trying immediately to memorize their drinks and nobody walked in the bar that didn’t feel happy or welcome to be around her. She just hugged everybody. She made them happy. She laughed and joked with them. She would sit and listen you know if they had a complaint, ‘oh, work was terrible today.’ She sat with open ears and listened to every one of those customers,” said Nylund.
Nylund says her beautiful small children alone was good enough reason for folks to team up. She says the mother always enjoyed talking about her six children who are all under the age of 10.
“SeVannah has six small children and that plays a really big role in the decision to throw a little benefit. Let’s put it towards whatever the family needs it for. There’s just so many babies to think about and we want to honor her,” said Nylund.
Nylund says she hopes the community comes out to support the family. She says food and raffles will be available.
“We will have several options for them to come out. I know we are doing chicken plates with chicken, rice, beans and all the trimmings. Those plates will be sold for $10 and they are also doing cheeseburgers and chips also for $8. We have quite a bit of baked goods coming. We are going to do a 50/50 drawing and also a bottle drop. You can buy tickets and then if you win, you choose a bottle that has been donated by somebody,” said Nylund.
Mata was the passenger in a vehicle when it was hit head-on early Sunday morning by another vehicle being driven by Jacob Perez, 33. Perez, who was also traveling with his six-year-old daughter, reportedly veered into the southbound lanes of State Highway 46 striking the vehicle and killing the young mother.
The driver, of the vehicle in which Mata was riding in suffered, serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Perez’s daughter also suffered only minor injuries.
Officials say Perez “reportedly showed signs of intoxication.” Following a blood alcohol level test, Perez was arrested and charged with intoxication manslaughter.
The benefit fundraiser, in memory of SeVannah Mata, gets underway at 2 p.m. Sunday at Boot Scootin. The bar is located at 4004 FM 78 in McQueeney.