Lou Ann was born in Dallas, on September 14, 1936 to the late Frank A Pace and Ida (Frankie) F Pace. She was a beloved Wife, Mom, Sister, Nana, Aunt Lou, and best friend to her husband of 65 years Don Gross, and her many loving children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends.
Her father was a teacher in the Army, and they moved several times during her childhood, with her making fond memories of playing with other children of Military families. They returned to Crandall and family when she was in grade school and she resided there for over 50 years.
She met Don, who would be the love of her life, in the fourth grade. They were close friends until their Sophomore year, when they became a couple after she said to him: “I know someone who wants to go out with you.”, he said “Who?”, and she said “Me”. The rest is history and Don says that she is the best thing that ever happened to him.
They graduated from Crandall High School in May of 1955 as “Mr. and Mrs. CHS” and married in July of that year.
Lou Ann was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Crandall, where she worshipped and she sang in the choir. She loved the fun they had at those Wednesday night Choir practices and made many lifelong friends there.
For most of her life, she embraced her role as a stay at home Mom, however, when her children were older, she began a career at The American National Bank of Crandall. She loved working there and loved her coworkers who became some of her dearest friends to this day. She retired from the bank at the age of 65.
Lou Ann was a descendant of the late Reverend CF Crandall for whom the town was named, and she cherished her many years there with all of her family and friends living within blocks of each other and within walking distance to her church. But in the summer of 1997 her and Don realized their dream of living on the lake when they moved to Cedar Creek Lake. She loved her home on the lake, saying “it was just perfect”. They spent the next 18 years sitting on their porch, watching the wildlife and the New Year’s Eve and Fourth of July fireworks. She watched every sunset from her rocking chair on that porch and loved watching her children and great-grandchildren feed the ducks and fish off of the dock.
In 2015 they moved to Dallas where she traded her life on the lake for some of her other loves…wonderful Dallas Tex-Mex and margaritas. After their home was damaged by the 2019 tornado in Dallas they moved to Destin Florida to live near her daughter, Donice where she was able to experience another of her great loves, the beach. She adored the white sand beaches and breathtaking blue waters of Northwest Florida, having vacationed there multiple times a year since 1992. She lived on the waters of Choctawhatchee Bay and was able to again enjoy the wildlife and sunsets every day from her chair on the porch.
Woven throughout all of her years and moves, she was always able to be there for one of her greatest loves – her family. She loved them all fiercely and unconditionally and was the rock her family was built upon. She loved her pink lipstick and sparkly shoes. She was strong, but gentle, patient, and kind. She was humble and always spoke in love and she had the most beautiful smile.
Lou Ann loved the Lord with all of her heart and soul. Just one week before she passed away, she watched Easter services on the television and quietly worshipped, singing along to her favorite hymns. Although those left here on earth are heartbroken, we rejoice in knowing that she is singing in the heavenly choirs and whole. We are grateful for the gift of her presence in our lives, but most of all, we are grateful for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ, and the promise that we will see her again.
Lou Ann is survived by her husband Don Gross, her sister, Marsha Ellis (David) of Frisco, Texas and their children, Donice Brown (Steve) of Destin, Florida, and Kyle Gross (Cindy) of Kaufman, Texas.
She is survived by 4 grandchildren, Ashley Kobza (Lance) of Dallas, Texas, Sheena Stracner (Del) of Crandall, Texas, Tina Sparks (Garry) of Temple, Texas and Holly Smith (Steven) of Sioux City, Iowa. Eleven great-grandchildren, Chase Torti (fiancé, Samantha), Caden and Carson Kobza, Shane and Leila Stracner, Elizabeth Coburn, Michelle and Graycie Sparks, Hailee, and Isaac Enoch, and Mikey Morris. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held graveside at the Crandall Cemetery on Tuesday April 20, 2021 at 2pm. Arrangements are being handled by Roselawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18