Phyllis Gray Grisham

Phyllis Gray Grisham (Ward) was taken by the Lord's angels to be with Him through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior on December 29, 2015, at the age of 91, as she was resting comfortably in Hospice Austin's Christopher House. Her children will always cherish her love, compassion and guidance forever. She was born in Marlin, TX on July 1, 1924. She and her family moved to Houston, TX after the second grade. Phyllis and her identical twin sister Nellie Gray Ritter were very active at San Jacinto High School in Houston, TX. They were cheerleaders their Senior year of 1942 and were also baton twirlers for the Golden Gaucho's Drill Team.

Phyllis and Nellie were later chosen by producer Cecil B. DeMille for the Gateway to Hollywood. Their Uncle Bill, who lived in Hollywood, CA at the time was the President of Advertising for Warner Brothers, advised his nieces not to go to Hollywood. They subsequently followed his advice and were not disappointed. Phyllis then graduated from Letha Rhodes Business College and became the executive secretary to the Chief Geologist at Superior Oil Company in Houston, TX.

Phyllis married her high school sweetheart William V. Grisham in 1945 and along with their two children were transferred many times throughout the United States with the U. S. Navy and then Standard Oil Company of Indiana (Amoco Production Company). Phyllis provided the strength and wisdom for the success of her family during those years. She studied oil painting under Violet Moulin in New Orleans, LA. and continued her art studies at Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK and The Chicago Art Institute in Chicago, IL. She was a charter member of Cancer Fighters of Houston, TX as well as a member of The Great Books Society.

After moving to Austin she enjoyed many years with her twin sister and brother-in-law (Vic and Nellie Ritter). She established membership at Hyde Park Baptist Church and later at Austin Baptist Church. She cherished both churches and her many dear friends at the Renaissance-Austin Retirement Community. Phyllis met her current husband Melvin Curtis Ward while both were living at the Renaissance-Austin Retirement Community and they were married for nine years.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents Florence B. and R. R. Gray, her brother Robert W. Gray and her sister Nellie Gray Ritter. She is survived by her most loving family: daughter Jeanne Grisham Duckworth and her husband Walter Eugene Duckworth of Kingwood, TX, as well as her son, William V. Grisham, Jr. and his high school sweetheart Sylvia Knezek of Ft. Worth, TX. She also leaves her

granddaughters, Katie Grisham Stockwell and husband Christopher Stockwell of Ft. Worth, TX and Elizabeth Paige Grisham of Portland, OR as well as her grandson Ryan William Duckworth of Kingwood, TX. She is also survived by her two great grandchildren Liam Benjamin Stockwell and Emery Gray Stockwell of Ft. Worth, TX. Additionally she is survived by her nieces and nephews Robert and Carol Ritter of Houston, TX, Victor and Ruthie Ritter and family of Waleska, GA, as well as her nephews Gregory Gray. and Stephen Gray of Houston, TX. She also leaves her cousin's daughter Eva Baumgarten and husband Ray Baumgarten and family in Tulsa, OK.

Graveside services will be conducted on Saturday, January 2, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at Austin Memorial Park Cemetery (Hancock location). In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice Austin. 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78759.

The family would like to send a special thank you to the doctors, nurses, caregivers, social workers and Chaplains who provided compassionate care for Phyllis and her family in the last several months of her life (Hospice Austin, Senior Minded Home Care, Nurses Unlimited and Renaissance Assisted Living).