Christine Ann DeLay

Christine Ann (Furrh) DeLay, 77, of Sugar Land, Texas, returned to the Lord on April 27, 2024 after a hard fought battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Christine was born on November 13, 1946 to Joicelyn and Billy Furrh in Orange, California - but got to Texas as soon as she could. She grew up in Annaville, Texas and graduated from Calallen High School in 1965. It was during those high school years that she was known as a gifted athlete and Barrel Racer on the youth rodeo circuit, and where she met her husband of 56 years, Tommy. They married in 1967, and Christine went on to serve as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, advocate, and a driving force for good.

After her husband was elected to serve in Congress, they settled in McLean, Virginia where Christine taught geography and government at Langley High School. Just as importantly, she famously brought Texas-style football to Virginia as the cheerleading coach while her teams won competitions up and down the coast.

Some consider this weird, but Christine liked hanging out with teenagers. She cared deeply about improving the plight of all children and was asked to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to serve as a voice for abused and neglected children. Christine served on the board of Child Advocates of Fort Bend County, where she helped raise millions of dollars for this worthy cause. She and Tom went on to foster several teenaged children over the years, and through those experiences and her own independent research, Christine developed a plan to help foster children grow into healthy, successful adults with a stable home. That vision became a reality in 2005 with the opening of The Oaks at Rio Bend, a first of its kind foster community in Richmond, Texas.

Christine could do nothing in halves. Throughout her life she carried the strength and wisdom of someone far beyond her years and was the ultimate caregiver.... especially when it came to loving on her beautiful dogs. When confronted with a problem, Christine didn't just seek to raise awareness, but to solve it with common sense and unrelenting passion. Her tough leadership, quick wit, and irreverent humor were appreciated by friends around the country and will be sorely missed by all.

Christine was preceded in death by her parents, Joicelyn and Billy Furrh. She is survived by her husband, Thomas Dale DeLay, daughter, Danielle DeLay Garcia and her husband Chris, grandson Brett Thomas Ferro, granddaughter Remy Danielle Garcia, her sister, Cheryl Perkins (David), niece, Nancy, and nephew, Tony (Brigette).

Services will be private. The family expresses heartfelt appreciation for the caregivers at Village Green Cypress. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Child Advocates of Fort Bend County and that you enjoy a frozen margarita (with salt), a good joke, and a beautiful sunset with someone you love.