Grace Grierson Bunch

Grace will long be remembered for her tremendous intellect, remarkable memory, love for reading, Rice University, going to church and helping people in need who crossed her path. Her greatest love, however, was for her family and friends. She selflessly sacrificed most of her life so others had opportunities they might not otherwise have been afforded.

A proud native Houstonian, Grace was the second born of seven, to Lucy and William Grierson. She attended Montrose Elementary, Lanier Junior High and Lamar High School. After graduating from Lamar, she was one of the first women to attend Rice University, where she graduated Suma Cum Laude, and later served in many official and unofficial capacities to promote the school.

After graduating from Rice, Grace started working as an administrative assistant for Doctor Isaac McReynolds, where she later became the Business Manager for the Orthopedic Clinic of Drs. McReynolds, Burdeaux, York and Hoekman. She served the doctors, their patients, and the employees faithfully for almost 40 years.

In 1955, Grace married Max Bunch from Natchez, Mississippi, and gave birth to Max Bunch, Jr. in 1958. Grace and Max were married 50 years until Max’s passing in 2005. Together they were a couple you could count on, and they embodied what would later be called “The Greatest Generation.” A big part of that lifestyle meant sacrificing for and mentoring future generations, a practice Grace continued until her last day.

Grace’s love for Rice and literature came together in her long-time service to the Owen Wister Literary Society, (OWLS) where she was treasurer for many decades. Her love for books was always prevalent in her life and she was a regular patron and unofficial ambassador for the Brazos Bookstore, the Sam Houston Bookstore, and for the last 20 years at the River Oaks bookstore, where she was a “three time a week regular” until the store closed in 2021.

Grace was an active member of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, as well as Christ the King Presbyterian Church, attending both churches every Sunday until the pandemic of 2020. She was also a founding member of Christ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, as well as a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church.

Grace is survived by her sister, Beatty Grierson Morgan of Tomball; her son, Max Bunch, Jr. and his wife Allyson, of Fort Worth; grandson, Max Bunch III and his fiancé Shay Atkinson of Dallas; granddaughter Breck Bunch Wickman and her husband Colin Wickman of Dallas; along with numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and great-great-grandnieces and nephews.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o’clock in the afternoon until seven o’clock in the evening on Monday, the 28th of February, in the library and grand foyer of Geo H. Lewis and Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston.

A memorial service is to be conducted at half past two o’clock in the afternoon on Tuesday, the 1st of March 2022, in the sanctuary of The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston, where The Rev. Dr. Doug Richnow, Priest Associate, and The Rev. Louise Samuelson, Associate Rector, are to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception in the adjacent Sumners Hall.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to the Star of Hope Mission, 4849 Loop Central Drive, Suite 500 Houston, TX, 77081.

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