Donald R. Grace

Donald Ray Grace passed from this life on Sunday, February 21, 2010 at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Don was born at the Oklahoma Osteopathic Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Monday, October 14, 1946. He grew up and attended school on Charles Page Line in west Tulsa, where he attended church services at Glenwood Baptist Church. He graduated from Tulsa Central High School. Immediately following graduation, he went to work for Southwestern Bell. He continued to work in the telecommunications field, until he retired from Lucent Technologies after 35 years of service. This career allowed him to live and travel to many places all over the United States and South America. Don was proud to be part of the communications staff for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. This was quite an honor, because these particular games were known as the Centennial Olympiad celebrating the 100 year anniversary of the first Summer Olympic Games in 1896, held in Greece. Don had a love for sports. He was particularly fond of tennis, where he was active in many tournaments and won several awards. He also enjoyed the occasional round of golf. Water sports were a particular favorite of Don's. He was very good at water skiing barefoot. He also enjoyed boating, owning boats off and on throughout his life. He lived for a time on the edge of Lake Hudson, where he loved to spend an afternoon fishing in his own personal dock. His favorite car was the Chevrolet Corvette. He owned many throughout his life. Don was also an avid reader, and he liked to watch the History Channel on television. He enjoyed learning about his ancestry and was a proud member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma. He also loved gardening, landscaping, and home renovation. The first thing he would do when he would move in to a home was to totally remodel it from the outside, including the lawn, working his way in. He loved animals, owning dogs throughout his life. Don was very generous and caring to those he loved. His motto was 'Whatever was his, was yours.' He enjoyed sharing the things he had in life with those he cared for. Don was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: Fowler and Susie Morgan; and his paternal grandparents: William and Matilda Grace. Don is survived by his parents: Paul and Wanda Grace of Tulsa; His sister: Lucy Murphy of Glenpool; and his brother: David Grace and wife Vicki of Ketchum. He is also survived by his nieces: Vicki Gwartney and husband Tim of Glenpool; Monica Webb and husband Todd of Tulsa; Mandy Grace and husband Robin Wagstaff of Hawaii; and Melissa Grace-Smith and husband Seth of Tulsa. He is survived by great nephews: Brad Gwartney and wife June of Tallahassee, Florida; Chad Gwartney of Glenpool; Zander Wagstaff of Hawaii; and Ryker Smith of Tulsa. He is also survived by great nieces: Ashley Gwartney of Glenpool; Lily Wagstaff of Hawaii; Sadie Smith of Tulsa; and great-great niece: Lydia Gwartney of Tallahassee, Florida; as well as many other extended family and friends. A memorial service will be held in Don's honor at 10:00 AM, on Thursday, February 25, 2010, at the Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel. The Reverend Robert Post will officiate. Inurnment will follow in the Whispering Waters Cremation Garden.