Most North Texans remember the ice storm in February 2014. Roads were slick and many highways were impassable. Major school districts were forced to shut down.
While many people were simply inconvenienced, a young family from Kemp experienced a devastating loss when Dallas firefighter Scott Tanksley, 40, was hit by a car and thrown over an overpass. He died helping a stranded motorist.
Seven months later, his widow is speaking out about life without Scott and hoping changes made in the fire department will keep this from happening again.
Wendi Tanksley keeps her late husband's fire helmet and the clothes that he wore the day he died close by.
"When I pulled it out of the bag, it was just like he was gonna put it back on. So I just left everything the way it was, and it still smells like him. So I cherish that," Tanksley said.
Holding on is what Tanksley says feels right, seven months after losing her husband.
His boots, she said, remind her of his brave final moments.
"The roads were okay when he went in that morning. It was that evening, he texted me around 7 something, and that was pretty much the last time I heard from him," Tanksley said.
She said she remembers it like it was yesterday.
"I made the call to the station. The guys had just gotten back from the scene and told me that he had passed. They couldn't save him. My heart sank. I felt sick," she recalled.
Tanksley went to the hospital where her husband had been taken immediately after the accident.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"I asked to see him, and he was perfect as far as his face. God saved his face for me. Being there in the silence of just the two of us, my heart sank because he was my love," she said.
The funeral, Tanksley said, was very public and a blur. She comforted their oldest child, 13-year-old Laynee, while 8-year-old Levi clutched his daddy's fire helmet.
Five-year-old Lynlee Grace, she said, struggled to understand.
"I sat them down and told them the severity of daddy's job and that we are not promised tomorrow and daddy knew the risks involved with being a firefighter and unfortunately he's not gonna come home, that he was killed and he's at home with Jesus," Tanksley said.
Faith, she said, has carried this young family.
"You know, a lot of people say, 'You have strength,' but I am weak. It's God that's given me the strength," Tanksley said.
The young widow is hoping that closure will come with the Dallas firefighter fatality investigation report. Line-of-duty death benefits, both state and federal, hinge on that report as well.
Seven months after her husband's death, Wendi Tanksley still doesn't have that report.
"I've inquired several times, and a couple months ago they said they were working on it and it should be finished soon, but that was a couple months ago," Tanksley said.
She also recalled a conversation with Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings.
"I inquired what they were going to do because I had heard on the news where he said they needed to take steps to make sure that they keep their first responders safe. I wanted to let him know that I heard his voice and saw his face and I wanted to make sure that something is put in place," she said.
Rawlings told NBC 5 he remembers that conversation well.
"I looked at her in the eye and said we will make it better because of his death, and I want to make sure that I am good by that," Rawlings said.
When asked what changes he has made in the wake of Scott Tanksley's death, Rawlings said, "Well, I think the main thing I've been focused on is talking to our city manager and our [fire] chief about training. That's what we've got to do."
Asked if he could help Wendi Tanksley get the fatality investigation report, Rawlings said, "I am talking to him. I have asked for dates, but at the same time I want to make sure these reports are done right. We've got to move these things through the system in a more expedient fashion. I'm going to personally talk to the chief about it."
For now, Wendi Tanksley waits, hoping no other family has to face such a heartbreaking loss. "He was kind and giving, not only of his time, but just life and he was happy. He was tired, he worked hard, but he was so good," Wendi Tanksley said.
