Gretchen James

Gretchen Marlene James passed away February 12, 2014, at the age of 78, in Dallas, TX.

A Dallas native, Gretchen was born January 16, 1936 to the late Freda Yvonne Kadane and Henry Elbert Wendelborn. She loved growing up in Lakewood, where she attended Lakewood Elementary and Woodrow Wilson High School, matriculating to the University of Texas at Austin. She was interested in pursuing a degree in Geology, and was on the university ladies golf team.

Before marrying Robert Alfred Hall, of Waco and Valley Mills, TX, and raising their three children, she was a model for Neiman-Marcus in Dallas. Selected as one of the models for a feature story about the store, in the December 1955 issue of Cosmopolitan entitled “Texas Shangri-La”, she was likened to Audrey Hepburn.

An avid cook, she enjoyed holding gatherings for family and friends, sharing her love of all things flavorful. Whether it was laid out with the Lebanese recipes of her mother Freda, or her truly Southern fried chicken and cobbler, homemade ice-cream or black-eyed pea dip, Gretchen’s table was always a favorite.

She loved to sing, enjoyed classic films on TCM, mystery programs, Westerns and James Bond. If you weren’t sure who “that” actor was in a film, she was the gal to ask. Board games such as Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit, cards or Yatzhee, were often seen at her family holiday celebrations. Gretchen always strived to bring her family together, and loved to see them happy.

She spent many happy years with her second husband Otis Lee James, Jr., before his passing in 2008. They loved to laugh, and were a loving and caring duo.

She is survived by daughter Heidi Hall Bass of Dallas; Audrey Hall (Tim) of Phoenixville, PA; and son Robert Alfred Hall, Jr. (Colette), Wylie; grandchildren, Amber Bass and Timothy and Hannah Hall; great-grandchildren, Trinity and Timothy Hall, Jr.; sister Barbara Wendelborn Thompson. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband Otis Lee James, Jr. Her first husband, Robert Alfred Hall, passed away on his ranch in Valley Mills, TX on February 21, 2014. They will both be dearly missed and always loved.

Memorial service will be 2:00 pm Saturday March 15, 2014 in the Chapel at Sparkman-Hillcrest, with reception to follow.