James M. Grace 1943-2022

Jim was born Aug. 12, 1943, in Youngstown and attended Ursuline High School.

He graduated from the University of Notre Dame and served in the U.S. Army, from where he retired as a captain.

Jim then embarked on a career in certified public accounting and eventually became the chief financial officer of Financial Industries Corp. in Austin, Texas. In this role, he led FIC’s robust merger and acquisition program, closing dozens of acquisitions over 15 years.

After retirement, Jim and Lette moved to South Padre Island, where Jim served for many years as the president of the Saida III Towers Residents Association.

Among the accomplishments in which Jim was most proud was serving as the chairman of the Finance Committee for each of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Austin and Emmaus Catholic Church in Lakeway, Texas, when those parishes built their beautiful sanctuaries.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Letitia (nee Stively) at the Basilica of Notre Dame, and they have five children: James Jr., Karin Hughes, Susan Penrod, Kimberly and Gregory; two sons-in-law, Frank Hughes and Eric Penrod; and a daughter-in-law, Veronica Garcia. Jim and Lette also have 14 grandchildren, Kelcy, Frank, Connor, Mackenzie, Tyler, Jeremy, Gabrielle, Isabelle, Grace, Nicholas, Mary, Bethany, Allyson and Eliana; and two great-granddaughters, Maliyah and Kahlani Hughes. He is also survived by his siblings, Marianne Sullivan, Robert Grace and Jeanne Grace.

James was preceded in death by his father, Philip Murray Grace; mother, Anita Jean Grace; and brother, Philip Murray Grace Jr.

The family requests that those who would like to commemorate Jim’s life consider a donation to Jim and Lette’s parish, Our Lady, Star of the Sea, 956-943-1297, in Port Isabel, Texas.

You may sign the online guestbook, light a remembrance candle or send words of comfort to the family of James Martin Grace at www.thomaegarza.com, the Thomae-Garza Funeral Home in San Benito, Texas.

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