Robert Grisham

Robert Douglas "Bob" Grisham, 79, a long time resident of Abilene, died Friday, February 24, 2006 in Abilene. A funeral service, with Reverend Scott Mayer officiating, will be at 3:00 P.M. on Monday, February 27 in the Episcopal Church Of The Heavenly Rest. Burial will follow in Elmwood Memorial Park under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Bob was born in Abilene on December 30, 1926 to Thomas Franklin and Jimmie Moore Grisham. He attended schools in Abilene, then attended and graduated from Kemper Military School. He then enrolled in The University of Texas where he became a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. His college education was interrupted by World War II, and he joined the Army. After the war, he enrolled and graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a Bachelor's Degree. Later, he graduated from Southern Methodist University Law School. Bob practiced law in Abilene for over 50 years, during which time, he served as President of the Abilene Bar Association. An active member of the local community, he was a member of the Board of Directors and Vice President of the Abilene Community Theater; Chairman of the Citizens for Better Government; a member of the Planning and Zoning Board of Abilene; a member of the Board of Development of Hendrick Home for Children; Chairman of the Board of Adjustments of the City of Abilene; Chairman of the Community Welfare Council; Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pastoral Care and Counseling; Secretary, and later an honorary member, of Hendrick Medical Center Foundation and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Y.W.C.A., he and his wife, Justine, were among the founders of Serenity House of Abilene. He was Vice President of the Delaware Basin Properties, Inc.; President of Mutual Securities; was certified by the State Bar of Texas as a Specialist in Probate and Estate Planning; a Fellow in the Texas Bar Foundation; a Fellow in the American College and Probate Council, and a member of the American College of Trust and Estate Council. Robert is survived by his wife, Justine Digby-Roberts Grisham, and their two children, a son, Thomas Grisham of Abilene, and a daughter, Cynthia Grisham O'Keeffe of Austin; a grandson, Kevin Patrick O'Keeffe of Austin; nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Grissom Steele, C.D. Grissom, Evelyn Maley, Jan Browning, Jay Witherspoon and Betty Siber. Pallbearers will be Charles Spicer, Henry Doscher, Gordon Asbury, Bill Murray, Bob Dickenson, Glynn Ray, Chuck Erwin, Dr. George Woodword, Daryl Zeller, Richard Vandever, Dwight Kinard and Lee Hampton. The Abilene Bar Association will serve as honorary pallbearers. Memorials may be made to The Soup Sisters of the Church of the Heavenly Rest, Episcopal; the Y.W.C.A. of Abilene, 1350 North 10th, Abilene, TX 79601; Sears Methodist Specialty Services, 3233 South Willis, Abilene, Texas 79605; or Sears Methodist Hospice, 3233 South Willis, Abilene, Texas 79605