Obituary of Grace E. Courts

Grace was born to Nelly and George Frazier in Portland Oregon Feb. 2nd 1916. She was raised in Detroit and later in Kalamazoo Michigan. Grace spent time on her parent’s farm near Kalamazoo along with her Sister Nancy and Brother Jimmy. After completing high school she learned to be a stenographer. She used her skills with short hand all of her life. Graces parents Nelly and George where friends with Elmer Leroy Courts and Blanch the parents of Fred Courts. Fred and Grace were friends at an early age and met again later when Grace was a teenager they married in 1936 when she was twenty. The newlyweds moved to Palo Alto; Californian and Fred completed his graduate work at Stanford. From there they moved to Columbia Mo. for Fred’s first teaching job at the University of Missouri. Harriett their first daughter was born, sadly she died at an early age from a glandular condition. Daughters Barbra and Georgeann came next. In 1946 Grace, Fred and the girls moved from Missouri to Portland Oregon when Fred took a teaching job at Reed College. Their first son Byron was born in Portland. Fred the youngest son was born in 1949 in San Francisco. Throughout those years Grace was a wonderful homemaker and mother to all of her children. The best cook, friend and counsel to all of us. She spent many years volunteering for the Red Cross, Sierra Club, and Democratic League of Women voters. As a “Faculty Wife” at Reed she was known for her hospitality and friendship to the Reed community. Other teachers, students and friends came by regularly for a visit and wonderful dinner. Les and Anne Squire along with others in the Reed community were her dear friends. After Fred’s death from a sudden heart attack in 1969 Grace went on with her life of helping the family and the community. She stayed active with the Red Cross and Sierra Club for many years and managed on her own with support from Henry Jung her financial advisor and our family. Grace is survived by daughters Barbara and Georgeann and sons Byron and Fred. Grandchildren Beth and Rachel and Great Grandchildren Andy, Ilona, Haley and Harrison. Service Information