Shirley N. Gryder

Shirley N Gryder was born in Mount Clemens, MI on August 12, 1935. She met and dated Bill Gryder after he sold her a car and they married in 1954. Four years later they moved to Houston, TX where they raised their family and where she resided until her death. She passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, December 8, 2024.

She spent 23 years working at Exxon in various positions before retiring as a Customer Service Supervisor in the Credit Card Center. After retiring, she went back to Exxon for several years to work on special projects. Her second retirement came after working at Compaq Computer for several years in their HR department. She took a small break before going to work at Gethsemane Lutheran Church as the church secretary for a few years before retiring for the last time.

Shirley was truly an extraordinary woman who had so many talents (many things self-taught). She was loving, caring, creative, crafty, smart, adventurous, welcoming, funny, beautiful, kind, compassionate and generous. She had a big heart and an infectious smile and laugh. To know her was to love her. Shirley had a remarkable sense of intuition and knew when someone needed help and she knew exactly what to do or say to comfort them. She was always there for everyone.

Shirley adored her family. One of her greatest joys was spending time with them. She was known to the kids as the grandma who could do anything. There was never a challenge too great for her. She was very involved in their daily lives playing with them, taking trips with them, riding a rollercoaster with them, attending their events, baking with them, etc.

Not only was she an amazing and devoted grandmother, mother, wife, sister and aunt but she was also a loving friend. She had many long friendships but one in particular lasting 79 years. She loved playing cards but found it difficult at times to find an opponent because she won so often. She enjoyed traveling and was fortunate to share that passion with friends and family as she visited much of the U.S. (including Hawaii), Canada, Europe, and Mexico.

Shirley’s love for our Lord and her unwavering faith, as well as her kindest, shined bright in every aspect of her life. Her love for Christ, her family, and friends and her compassion for others will live on through her children and grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her daughter, Vicki; her son, Gary; parents, Bernard (Sr.) and Olive Neils; and her brothers, Bernard Neils, Jr. and Howard Neils. Shirley is survived by two daughters, Teresa Pickering and Pam Landry; daughter-in-law, Debbie; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on December 21, 2024 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 4040 Watonga Blvd., Houston, TX. In lieu of flowers and those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to Gethsemane Lutheran Church.