Sharon Ley Lietzow

Sharon Ley Lietzow (née Gray) passed away peacefully on Monday, the 21st of September 2026, in Houston, with her family by her side — one day shy of what would have been her 85th birthday. Sharon was born on the 22nd of September 1941, in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

She was raised in the same home where her mother grew up, and this “family homestead” full of aunts, uncles, cousins — and an upright piano — is where her love of music began. Her parents agreed to formal piano lessons, despite the financial hardship, and seven-year-old Sharon began playing under the tutelage of Nell Keaton Cook. Before long, she was performing throughout Oklahoma, winning highest honors. As a winner of the Young Artist First Prize, Sharon was a soloist with the Tulsa Symphony.

Sharon’s hard work paid off, and she received a full four-year scholarship from the Edward B. Garrigues Foundation to attend Southern Methodist University. She had the time of her life as a Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sister while also honing her craft under the mentorship of piano teacher Alfred Mouldeous and as a graduate fellow to conductor Dr. Lloyd Pfautsch. She was named outstanding music student and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree. Sharon loved SMU, her teachers, and the program so much that her children endowed the Sharon Ley Lietzow Piano Scholarship at the SMU Meadows School of the Arts on her 70th birthday, so that other aspiring young pianists could have the same opportunities Sharon did.

During her graduate studies in Dallas, Sharon was recruited to direct the choral music program at Hillcrest High School, where she taught until moving to Houston as a newlywed in 1965. Sharon always wanted to finish her graduate studies, and was so proud when, after raising her children, she completed her Master of Music at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston in 2002, studying under the legendary Abbey Simon. In true “Sharon fashion,” she and her beloved husband, Bob Lietzow, became energetic alums for over twenty years — serving as Moores Society presidents, being honored with the Outstanding Volunteers Award, and endowing two graduate fellowships. They also founded the Sharon Ley Lietzow Piano Series at the annual Texas Music Festival.

Sharon's music career was one of accomplishment, joy, and service. She brought so much life to every piece she played — as a concert pianist, duo pianist, accompanist, choral conductor, and teacher. Sharon and her duo piano partner, Ann Chadwick, were well known for their performances, with George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” always bringing the house down and leading to a Houston Chronicle review headline “They Ran Out of Encores.” Sharon served as president of the Houston Tuesday Music Club and directed its chorus for ten years, co-chaired the Ruth Barr Competition, and endowed the Sharon Ley Lietzow First Prize Award. She was a founding director of the Junior League music therapy program, a board member and affiliate artist of the Houston Grand Opera and Texas Opera Theater, a board member for the Center for Performing Arts Medicine at Houston Methodist Hospital and the Shepherd Society at Rice University, and a founding board member and “first believer” of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra. Recently, it gave her great pride to donate one of her concert grand pianos to the Houston Methodist Hospital Barbara and George Bush Atrium, so that patients and families might find comfort and healing through music.

For over thirty years, Sharon was an active and cherished member of the St. Martin's Episcopal Church Choir, singing on Sundays and joining international summer choir tours that gave her the opportunity to perform in places like Westminster Abbey. She was especially honored to play piano during a rousing rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic” at the funeral of President George H. W. Bush.

But amid her service and dedication to her craft, Sharon always put her family first. She had a gift for gathering the people she loved — summer trips to New Braunfels, Brenham, and Estes Park, Colorado; annual family reunions where her piano playing kept everyone singing and dancing; yearly Christmas parties that were the highlight of the holiday season. She brought magic to everything she touched, from neighborhood haunted houses to Hunters Creek Elementary concerts that were worthy of Broadway.

Friendship mattered deeply to Sharon. Her circle included college friends, friends from her early days in Houston, and friends she raised children alongside - plus the members of the Dollars and Sense Investment Club, the TBC Breakfast Club, and the Treble Clef Club. She felt lucky to have so many wonderful women in her life.

In 1989, Sharon was blessed to meet her rock Bob and a great love affair full of laughter and joy began. Almost any night of the week, you could find Bob and Sharon at a performance or benefit, or on the dance floor with the Sarabande dance club. They especially treasured time with their grandchildren, weekends in Lakeway, and traveling the world together.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Ned Gray; her daughter-in-law, Gisela Ley; her first husband, Steve Ley; and his parents, Audrey and Wendel Ley.

Along with her husband, Bob Lietzow, Sharon is survived by her loving children, Katherine Ley O'Neill (Bill) of La Grange, Illinois, David Ley of Houston, and Kevin Ley (Julie) of Austin; and her cherished grandchildren, Chris, Charlie, and Billy O'Neill, and Elizabeth Ley. Sharon was also “Mimi” to Bob's children, Alexa Lietzow, and Rob (Sheri) Lietzow; and grandchildren Phoebe, Finn, and Lucy Adams, and Steve, and Derick Lietzow. She will be missed by her brother, Greg Gray (Sharon) of Tulsa, nephew, John Gray (Danielle); and many loving cousins.

Sharon’s beautiful smile will be dearly missed by all, and the loss of her music will be profound.

A Memorial Service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, the 30th of October, at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, 717 Sage Road in Houston, where the Rev. Dane E. Boston, and Gregory W. Cross are to officiate.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the adjacent Bagby Parish Hall.

For those unable to attend, you may join the livestream by selecting the “Join Livestream” icon in the service information section.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made in Sharon’s honor to the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra by selecting the "Donations" link below or a musical organization of your choice.