Grace Althea Loftis was born September 7, 1930 in Sacramento, California to Wilson and Althea (Joy) Rankin.  Grace peacefully went to her Lord on January 21, 2023 at her home in Gainesville, Texas.

She was a farmer’s daughter raised in and around Arbuckle, California and a descendant of the earliest California settlers.  She graduated from Pierce Joint Union High School, class of 1948.  While in high school she lettered and competed at the Colusa County Fairs winning many 1^st place blue ribbons for her seamstress skills.  She continued her love of sewing throughout her life sewing for her children, family members, friends, and the general public.  She expanded her skills from clothing to quilting where she would compete in quilting shows as well.  She was definitely talented in her sewing and her crochet; much in demand for her talent.

In addition to her craft talents, she loved animals of all kinds, loved nursing orphaned rabbits, watching and feeding the wild birds.  She loved gardening whether it was a large area in the ground or in pots and tubs, something was always growing.  She loved looking out her windows while sewing/quilting and watch the broodmares and foals play and watch the wild birds and “hummers” come to the feeders.  Most of all she loved her family and going to watch her grandchildren and great grandchildren participate in their sports whether it was rodeo, soccer, basketball, baseball, dance recitals or a school play.  She truly deeply loved her family.

She was a woman with a big heart.  She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary for many years while living in California, New Mexico and Texas.  She was an avid volunteer at the Carlsbad Medical Center and the Carlsbad Senior Center.  She was a member of the Carlsbad Zia Quilters Guild.  Upon moving to Texas it didn’t take her long to find and become a volunteer at the Stanford House Senior Center.  She loved spending the day with her friends at Stanford House.

She was funny, smart, talented and a bit of a vagabond at heart.  She felt she had gypsy blood because she loved going just to see what was over that next hill.  She was a strong woman, a good friend and a great mother.  She will be deeply missed by many.

Grace is survived by her sons, Leonard Loftis and wife, Cherri, Mesa, Arizona; Todd Loftis and wife, Melissa, Palm Bay, Florida; Eddie Loftis and wife, Carla, Wheaton, Missouri; Tad McVay and wife, Marcy, Elmore City, Oklahoma; daughter, Deborah Watson and husband, Curtis, Gainesville, Texas; sister-in-law, Carolyn Rankin, Grimes, California; niece, nephews and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Grace was preceded in death by her parents, Wilson and Althea (Joy) Rankin; brother, George Rankin; sister, Lorraine Rankin; sister, Martha Cumbie and a grandson and a great grandson.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 28, 2023 from 1:00 pm-4:00 pm with family and friends at Meador Funeral Home, 1204 E. California Street, Gainesville, Texas 76240.  There will be a private celebration of life with the family at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to the Stanford House Senior Citizen Activity Center, 401 W. Garnett Street, Gainesville, Texas 76240

Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Meador Funeral Home of Gainesville.