Grace Patricia Ezell

1940 - 2020

Grace Patricia Ezell of Conroe passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones, on December 8, 2020 after a years long struggle with Parkinson's Disease.

Grace Patricia Ezell was born on February 18, 1940 in Charleston, South Carolina to Ely Edward, Sr. and Grace Oleese Driggers. Patricia graduated from Valdosta State in Valdosta, GA and went on to get her librarian certificate at Sam Houston State University. She worked as both an English teacher and librarian in public schools for 38 years in the Aldine, Montgomery, and Conroe school districts. She was active in the schools where she worked and served for many years as the sponsor of the Troika Literary Magazine at Conroe High School. While at a teacher's conference she met a fellow teacher who would become her partner for life, Bobby Ezell, and they married on June 1, 1974. When they weren't teaching or raising their daughters, they loved to travel together and took trips all over the world. From Alaska to Australia, from Austria to Mexico and beyond. Patricia loved to experience the vastness of our world. Patricia was a great lover of the arts and an avid reader. She was a member of the Lit Chicks Book Club for which she regularly organized events in her home. She was also a member of First Presbyterian Church of Conroe, Delta Kappa Gamma (where she served as president), and in 2017 was presented with Presbyterian Women's Honorary Lifetime Membership Award for her faithful and outstanding service and leadership. With her husband, she founded the Bobby and Patricia Ezell Endowed Teacher Education Scholarship for juniors and seniors pursuing teaching certification at Sam Houston State University.

Patricia was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2008 and was actively involved in Parkinson's advocacy work. She was a member of the Houston Area Parkinson Society and helped found a Parkinson support group for North Montgomery County.

She was a kind, compassionate, and brilliant woman who will be missed by all who knew her.

Mrs. Ezell is survived by her husband of over 46 years, Bobby Ezell of Conroe; three daughters, Natalie K. Hurley & husband Michael of Houston, Lisa T. Martin & husband Keith of Kuna, Idaho, and Angie Beardsley & husband Ricky of The Woodlands; five grandchildren, Keenan, Kara, Brendan, Rylie, and Bobby; four siblings, Martha D. Westendorff & husband Clarence of St. Hedwig, TX, Cynthia Hiott & husband Bobby of North Charleston, SC, Catherine Driggers of Hanahan, SC, and Ely Edward Driggers, Jr. & wife Lennis of North Charleston, SC; eight nieces and nephews; and fourteen great-nieces and nephews.

There will be a private family service held at Antioch Cemetery Chapel at Antioch Luna Cemetery, 120 County Road 692, Teague, Texas 75860, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2020. There will be a public memorial service announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Bobby and Patricia Ezell Teacher Education Scholarship Endowment (Sam Houston State University, Office of University Advancement, PO Box 2537, Huntsville, TX 77341-2537) or to the Houston Area Parkinson Society (2700 Southwest FWY #296, Houston, TX 77098).

Please visit our website at www.bowersfuneralhome.net to sign the memorial guestbook or to leave a message for the family.

Bowers Funeral Home

900 U.S. Hwy 84 West

Teague, Texas 75860

254-739-2511