Grady Lemar Cartwright Sr.

On September 9, 2018 Grady Lemar Cartwright Sr. 83 of Corpus Christi, left this world to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Grady (“Pappy” to his Grandchildren) was born on February 21, 1935, in Rio Grande City, Texas.   When Grady was 5 the family moved to Falfurrias, Texas.   It was in his early life that Grady made the decision to trust in Jesus as his Savior and was baptized.    A few years later they moved up the road to Alice, Texas where he graduated from high school. He attended Howard Payne University for a short time before returning to Alice where Grady eventually married his soulmate Nancy Mae Terrell, also of Alice, in September of 1959. This union had been formed around their involvement in church work and blossomed after they were married. Even though they had moved to Corpus Christi, they commuted weekly to Alice, where Grady was leading the music for services. He also led music as a member of Southside Baptist and Travis Baptist churches in Corpus Christi. Grady was an ordained Baptist Deacon and last served actively at Parkdale Baptist Church where he also served in other ministries from 1977 to 2001. He and Nancy taught Sunday School from 7th through 12th grades over time while their children grew up.  They eventually finished their time leading and teaching in the Senior Adult department. Grady  was very active in the church choir over these years and also spent some time as part of the Corpus Christi Commodores Men’s Chorale.

Grady worked for several decades at KRIS-TV channel 6 in Corpus Christi, after which he and Nancy opened a floral business in his hometown of Alice. Even with the stress of commuting, great joy was found in his artistic gift of floral design and in the daily opportunity to spend time with special life-long friends in Alice. Dedicated to their church and friends, just like at the beginning of their lives together Grady again drove him and Nancy from Corpus to Alice and back, this time 6 days a week (7 on Holidays).   Grady had a passion for floral and was good at it.   From time to time he would teach floral design at Del Mar College.   “Pappy” mesmerized his grandchildren and friends with the transformation of his backyard into a sort of secret garden.

As a father, Grady was dependable, always being an example on how to be about the business of working to provide for family. He was instrumental in making sure his kids were exposed to the gospel…providing the opportunity for eternity in Heaven through Salvation in Jesus. He demonstrated what it was to fulfill commitment in how he treated and took care of his spouse.

As a grandfather, Grady never hesitated to hold his grandbabies and spoil them. It could be said Pappy would go overboard at times when treating them which qualified him as a grandpa. He often exhibited this trait when retrieving food for the family get-togethers, where he was always purchasing enough Bar-B-Q to feed 20 when there were 10 at the table. In his world it was always better to have too much than not enough. There were always leftovers.

A dedicated son, father and especially husband, Grady cared for his ailing sweetheart Nancy as no one else could. Without question, in his mind it was his loving duty.  Even as his sweetheart’s health failed and the task became an extreme burden that most would have seen as impossible to bear, he never wavered. No one could ever ask for a greater companion and care giver than Grady. As an example to all, he took is wedding vows literally.  With love and dedication he fulfilled them completely to the very end.  

Grady didn’t know a stranger and would be a friend with anyone.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 41 years Nancy Mae (Terrell) Cartwright of Corpus Christi, and his parents Lee and Viola (Taylor) Cartwright of Alice.

He is survived by His sons Grady Lemar Cartwright Jr (Patricia) of Rockport and Gregory Lynn Cartwright (Kay) of Yorktown.   Grandchildren Ashley Cartwright Martin of Sweethome, Grady Cartwright III of Rockport,  Meagen Cartwright Parma of Victoria, Joey Robin of Rockport, Jeremy Downy of Corpus Christi, Melissa Downy of Rockport, & Peter Lucus of San Antonio and 11 great grandchildren.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Grady Lemar Cartwright Sr., please visit our floral store.