Yvonne James Fritz (Mema)

Yvonne Lucille James was born in Dallas on May 20, 1936 to Samuel Lee and Olivia Mooney James.

She was raised in Oak Cliff and attended Henderson Elementary, St. Cecilia Catholic School and Sunset High School, graduating in 1953. She was a proud Bison and was active in organizing reunions for many years.

She met Bob L. Fritz in a boardinghouse dining room while attending The University of Texas and a match was made. After graduating, they married in 1959 at St. Cecilia Church, moved to Richardson and raised three children: Lavelle, Deanna and Edward. In 1971, the family moved to Taipei, Taiwan and had three years of adventurous living and traveling. Making the home she wanted while overseas was challenging but she worked hard to ensure that holidays, etc. were celebrated just like back home.

Returning to Richardson, Yvonne was an avid bowler, genealogist, volunteer and grandmother. She frequently said that being a grandmother was the best job in the world and she loved being Mema to her seven grandchildren.

She and Bob continued to travel – throughout the US, Europe and the Mideast. She loved going on cruises with or without Bob!

Special thanks to Janine Rutkoske and Pam Herman – caretakers who also loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Samuel Lee James, Jr. (Mickey)

She is missed dearly by her husband of 64 years, Bob; her children, Lavelle Ferris (Lonnie), Deanna Shea (Bill), and Edward (Jancy) and her seven grandchildren: Taylor and Nicole Shea (Anthony Hamburg), Colin and Kyle Ferris, Grayson, Zach and Katie Fritz.

Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Residence, 330 W. Pembroke Ave., Dallas TX 75208 or the charity of your choice.

A reception in memory of Yvonne will be held in the Club House of Highland Springs Senior Living Community, 8000 Frankford Rd, Dallas – from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2024