Gretchen Lewis

Gretchen Clift Sammons was born in Waxahachie, Tx on December 24,1927 to Oliver and Nelle Clift.   She attended Waxahachie schools graduating from Waxahachie High School in 1945. She attended Texas Tech in Lubbock where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Sciences.

On November 6, 1949, Gretchen married Jim Sammons and they made their home in Paris, Texas where they raised their children, Clift, Barbara, and Paul.  Gretchen served as Secretary and Bookkeeper of their feed, seed, and fertilizer business, Big Country Feed & Seed Store.  She was also active in numerous community and civic organizations in Paris.  In 1969, the family moved to Waxahachie. Gretchen joined the staff of Citizens National Bank in 1979 as a Lobby Teller. In 1981, she was promoted to Head Teller and Vault Teller. In 1985, she was promoted to Assistant Cashier and Teller Supervisor.

Gretchen was a longtime member of Central Presbyterian Church, where she was a member of the chancel choir, an Elder, a Trustee, and served as church treasurer.  She was a member of the Joe Merritt Scholarship Trust, Ellis County Museum, Historic Waxahachie, and served as hostess and treasurer for the Gingerbread Trail. She also served as Treasurer of Waxahachie Ex-Students Association, and was Chairman of the Grants Committee of the Waxahachie Foundation. Gretchen was a member of Gardener’s Limited and The Waxahachie Country Club.  In 2003, Gretchen married Robert E. Lewis, and together, enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, attending monthly luncheons with their class of ’45  “First Friday Lunch Bunch”, and spending time with their dear friends and family!

Gretchen was predeceased by both husbands, eldest son Clift Sammons, daughter Barbara Sammons Murphey, granddaughter Brenna Murphey, and sister Dorothy McElroy.
She is survived by her youngest son Paul Sammons and wife Wendy of Temple, TX., grandson Owen Murphey of Denver, CO., son-in-law Steve Murphey of Plano, TX.,
nephews Ed McElroy and Oliver McElroy, and stepdaughters Kelly Monson and husband Bruce of Waxahachie, and Holly Davis and husband Buck of Sand Springs, OK.

The family would like to thank the staff at Buffalo Creek Assisted Living for the loving care given to Gretchen over the last four years, and to the nurses at Bristol Hospice Pathways for their compassionate care at the end of her life. We would especially like to thank Mary Sue Britton for the love, friendship and care she showed and gave Gretchen throughout many years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sims Library, Ellis County Museum, and Waxahachie Care.