Lucille Townley Graham

LUCILLE TOWNLEY GRAHAM, born the 9th of November 1916 in Houston, passed away Tuesday, the 14th of September 2004. A native Houstonian, Mrs. Graham was the daughter of the late Lillian Loch Townley and Ralph Waldo Townley. She was a graduate of St. Agnes Academy and Rice Institute. Having taught for many years at St. Anne Catholic School and Poe Elementary, Mrs. Graham was a beloved elementary school teacher. She was also the founder and president of Rice Women's Association. A long-time resident of University Place Retirement Community, Mrs. Graham was active with Literacy Advance, The Needlepoint Group, and with her family. She was an amazing matriarch of her family. Hers was an independent personality with a wonderful sense of humor and she always had "a plan." Mrs. Graham had uncommon wisdom and taught all of her family the importance of being a family. It was her wish that each person who was the recipient of her kindness, would in turn, "pass it on." She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. Mrs. Graham was preceded in death by her daughter, Bonnie Graham Burchard. She is survived by her son, Frederick Townley Graham of California; daughters, Terry Graham Upton and husband, David, Penny Graham Garison and husband, Tim, Robin Graham Cowsar and husband, Ed; son in law, Bob Burchard; grandchildren, Frederick Doyle Graham and wife, Mina, Laura Graham Renshaw and husband, Jim (all of California), David Graham Upton, Patrick Wade Upton, Mary Louise Burchard, Bess Loch Garison (all of Houston), Edward Luke Cowsar, William Graves Cowsar, and Samuel George Cowsar (all of Fredericksburg, Texas). She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Frederick Darian and Shea Florizel Graham, Graham James and Cole Michael Renshaw of California; and her niece, Carolyn Graham Orr of Lander, Wyoming. Mrs. Graham also leaves behind many dear and precious friends. A memorial mass will be celebrated at half past noon on Saturday, the 25th of September, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, with the Rev. Msgr. William Pickard and the Rev. John Rooney as concelebrants. Immediately following the mass, friends will gather at a location to be specified in the church service folder. For those desiring, the family suggests memorials be directed to Habitat For Humanity International, Post Office Box 1088, Americus, GA, 31709-1088.