Carmita Gracida Beust

Carmita Gracida Beust, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on October 27, 2012. She was preceded in death by husband, Walter and parents, Enrique Gracida and Mathilde Derbes Gracida.

She leaves behind a brother, The Most Reverend Rene Henry Gracida, retired Bishop of Corpus Christi Diocese, and four children, Brenda Beust Smith and son-in-law Bill, David Beust and daughter-in-law Sara, Judy Beust Harrington and son-in-law Bill, Audrey Beust McMurray and son-in-law John; eight grandchildren: Blake Smith, Alex Beust, Annie Beust, Cris Harrington (wife, Tammy), Caroline Harrington, Stuart McMurray, Mimi McMurray, and Jimmy McMurray, and two great-grandchildren, Jack and Emma Harrington.

Carmita was born in New Orleans in 1919. She attended Rice University, was a nationally-published writer, a columnist for the Houston Chronicle and a longtime member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church and the Charity Guild of Catholic Women. Carmita was an active fundraiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation/Gulf Coast chapter. Her beautiful soprano voice will be greatly missed at musical gatherings.

Visitation will be November 7, 2012, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with a rosary at 8:00 p.m. at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on November 8, 2012, at Corpus Christi Catholic Church with Rite of Committal to follow at Forest Park East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation in Carmita’s name may be made to Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 9900 Stella Link Road, Houston, Texas 77025.