Rose Colleen Greenwood

Surrounded by her husband, family, and dear friends, Rose Colleen (Cody) Greenwood, entered eternal life on March 21, 2025. Born to Mary and Porter Lee Caldwell in Dallas, Texas, Cody lived most of her life in Houston. Cody, Mom, and Grandma Cody will be missed, yet waves of comfort soothe our sorrow as we acknowledge Cody has joined her sweet daughter, Kathy, and beloved twin sister, Caty.
In youth Cody and Caty were inseparable, a dynamic duo, excelling at every turn. Espousing a mantra of "if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right!" she excelled through her years at Pershing Middle School, Lamar High School, and Rice University. As college freshmen, Cody and Caty met fellow classmate Jim Greenwood during orientation. Months later, after a chance encounter at a New Year's Eve party, the two enjoyed their first date - on Cody's 19th birthday - watching the musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at a local movie house. From then on, they were a team, combining their unique skills, strengths, and interests.
Two days after graduating from Rice, Cody and Jim married on June 1, 1958, at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. While Jim attended law school, Cody taught 4th-graders at Mathews Elementary in Austin. Cody often shared the joys of motivating her students - an invaluable skill as she pivoted to Motherhood.
While raising five children, Cody was the ultimate Kool-Aid Mom and household manager. She amazed us with her diverse skills: from turning cotton into gold when sewing countless dresses, to tutoring Jimmy in Algebra. She was always there to help and encourage her children to do their best. Renowned for her cut-your-finger cake, oven-broiled cinnamon toast, lasagna, and needlepoint pillows, she savored family gatherings and eagerly played timeless games like Charades, Yahtzee, and Scrabble.
Cody also found time to give back, especially to the Blue Bird Circle, the Junior League, the Museum of Fine Arts, and as a Sunday School teacher. She even Wow-ed us time and again with her theatrical talents during Junior League Charity Ball productions.
When she decided to build a career, Cody thought she'd be pretty good at real estate. Not surprisingly, she was amazing! First with Rick Schubert, and then Robin Elverson, she later became a co-founder of Greenwood King Properties. Her leadership, integrity, transparency, and due diligence propelled her and the firm into regional prominence. In 1990, she was awarded the Certified Residential Specialist designation. A year later she was elected to serve as a director for the Houston Association of Realtors. In 1994, she received that board's presidential citation. Cody loved "doing her home-work" and became a mentor and friend to countless agents. A proud member of AA, Cody celebrated 45 years of sobriety in February, supported by a community of close friends.
Grandma Cody loved her grandkids and great grandchild beyond words, thinking of them as she sent a collective "thought for the day" text every single day for years and years.
Cody is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Jody Lester and Caty Ortquist and daughter, Mary Kathryn (Kathy) Armer. She is survived by Jim Greenwood, III, her husband of 66 years, and her children, Jim A. Greenwood (Karen), Nancy C. Greenwood (Sharon), Jody L. Greenwood (Alice) and Virginia G. Zerby (Rusty). Also, her grandchildren Kayanne Armer (Jill), Trey Armer (Megan), Matthew Porter Greenwood (Autumn), Elisabeth Pabst Parker (Marquitta), Roberto Guillermo Pabst, Jr., Alexandra Greenwood Beckendorf (Michael) and James Preston Greenwood, great-grandchild, Mila Parker and numerous nieces and nephews.
We all extend profound gratitude to Cody's daughter Nancy, also a twin, for the tireless care she has provided. Nancy's divine love for her Mom, with a servant's heart, has been a marvel to watch and to appreciate, especially by Mom. Special thanks, also, to caregivers Destiny, Leticia and Monique.
A celebration of Cody's life will be held on Friday, March 28 at 11am at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, Texas.
charity of choice - Blue Bird Circle, and St. John the Divine Episcopal Church. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Rose Colleen (Cody), please visit our Tree Store.