Virginia Grace McHenry's Obituary
Virginia Grace Nutt McHenry
Grace McHenry died peacefully on April 28, 2023, two weeks after her 98th birthday. Everyone who loved and knew Grace well thought that she might just live forever. Grace’s name was rarely mentioned without being paired with the word, “Amazing.” Thanks to the Christian hymn, Amazing Grace, written in 1772, we are all accustomed to paring “Amazing” with “Grace.” Grace McHenry was truly amazing.
Virginia Grace Nutt was born in Mt. Vernon, Texas on April 14, 1925. She was the daughter of John Paul and Jesse Brannum Kilpatrick Nutt. Grace was the last of eight children and sister to Lorene, twins Veita and Leita, Marie, Winnie, Frances, and Zack. Grace was several years younger than her siblings, who all found themselves working on the farm and in the fields. Pappa Nutt insisted the baby should not work in the fields, but Mama Nutt insisted she have a job. As a solution, she learned to cook, and could she cook! By age three, Grace would stand on a large, over-turned stock pot to reach the stove top. What began in the little farm kitchen would prove to be one of her finest talents. Grace loved to tell stories of spending time with her special sister, Frances, and her precious brother, Zack. Grace graduated from Mt. Vernon High School in 1943.
Upon graduation, Grace moved to Longview for her first job in the banking industry and lived in a boarding house for single working ladies. One fateful night, Grace was on a date with a beau at a soda shop. Grace and her date were sharing a meal quietly, when an unknown soldier in uniform slipped into their booth, introduced himself as Ben McHenry, and summarily stole Grace’s heart. (Ben had been eating dinner with a buddy in the same dining room. He pointed-out Grace to his buddy and said, “See that girl over there? I am going to marry her.” And the rest is history.) After a whirl-wind relationship, many letters, and a few love poems, they married in Longview, TX, on December 28, 1945. Their only son, Gary Dwain McHenry, was born one year later. The McHenry home was never without a puppy dog. Grace loved her puppies without ceasing and always had a soft spot for a furry friend. And for the record, no one could rock a dachshund, or wiener dog sweater or shirt better than Gracie.
Ben and Grace were married for 67 years, and they were as close to inseparable as any married couple could have been. Ben was a World War II South West Pacific Theatre U. S. Army medic, registered medical technologist, hospital CEO, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Vice President. Grace made a career as a bank officer, working for First National Bank Longview, First National Bank Dallas, and First State Bank Gladewater. This was a different time - a simpler time when one could write a counter check. On more than one occasion, Grace denied the signature on Ben’s counter check upon passing her desk. Always whip-smart, Grace knew a poker debt when she saw one. She would simply say, “No, that’s not Ben’s signature.”
Grace and Ben moved over the years, living in Paris, TX, Gladewater, TX, Dallas, TX, San Antonio, TX, Houston, TX, and ultimately retiring in Dallas. She and Ben had a deep and abiding love for their church, First United Methodist Church Richardson. Together, they attended church and taught Sunday school for more than 30 years. Grace loved to hunt and fish. She was an ace poker player, and an avid Dallas Cowboys fan. She read the Dallas Morning News from cover-to-cover daily until age 95. Her favorite name was “Ganny Gace,” given to her by her only grandson, Ben. She was “Gracie” to a few special people and “Aunt Grace” to many.
Grace loved to entertain. It was often said the best café in Dallas was on Grace and Ben’s patio! Since learning how to cook at age three, Grace honed her sills in countless cooking classes. No memory of Grace would be complete without mentioning her scratch pies – all made with the flakiest crust: pecan, coconut, and chocolate icebox pie. They simply were the best. Family gatherings were not complete without one or more of her signature dishes: green beans, Thanksgiving dressing, baked ham (only the good kind), standing rib roast, baked ribs, grilled shrimp, tangy meatloaf, pinto beans, fried corn bread, cast iron skillet corn bread, peach cobbler, or her just right gin and tonic (with lime).
At 89, she began growing jalapeno peppers seriously. Although just a hobby, she looked after her peppers with devotion and patience, never harvesting a pepper until it was perfectly red. At 90, she entered her homemade red pepper jelly in the Texas State Fair Creative Arts Jelly Contest. When she received her “non-winner” notification in the mail, she decided she was going to win next-year’s contest, no matter the cost. At 91, she won her first blue ribbon for her red pepper jelly. She enjoyed fifteen minutes of fame, being featured on NBC news and in the Texas Highways Magazine. She entered her jelly until age 97, winning multiple ribbons for her hot pepper jelly and peach jam.
Grace is preceded in death by her husband Ben, her mother and father, Jesse and John Nutt, her brother, Zack Nutt, sisters Frances Nutt, Marie White, Winnie Stephens, Lorene Holcomb, and sisters Veita and Leita Nutt. She is survived by her loving and devoted son Gary McHenry and his wife Miriam McHenry of Liberty, Texas; grandson Ben McHenry and wife Tricia McHenry, great grandson, Wesley McHenry of Tomball; bonus grandson Jake Westmoreland and wife Morgann Westmoreland of Houston; bonus granddaughter Marlee Westmoreland of Austin, Tx; niece, Sharon Doherty and husband Ralph of Dallas, TX, and Benjamin Dwight Stephens of Dallas, TX. She is also survived by a handful of loving great nieces and nephews.
Restland Funeral Home and Cemetery is undertaking the funeral arrangements. A celebration of life gathering is planned for 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 4th at the Restland Wildwood Chapel in Dallas, TX. A reception will follow for family and friends.
If you wish to honor Grace’s memory, please consider a gift to First United Methodist Church Richardson, TX. Thank you for taking a moment to remember Grace, and as she loved to say when parting, “You be careful out there!”
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