Jeanette Elenora Grover

Jeanette Elenora Kolar Grover passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 22, 2023 at her home in Portland, Texas surrounded by the love of her family.  She was born in Fort Bend County on March 23, 1936 to Elenora (Ellie) and August (Bo) Kolar.

Jeanette grew up in La Salle, Texas graduating in 1954 from Industrial Consolidated High School as her class salutatorian.  She served as drum major, editor of the Cobra newspaper and the Derrick yearbook, and received Best Actress in the State honors for her leading role in their one act play.  She graduated from Durham Business College in Houston and returned home to begin her career as a secretary/bookkeeper.  She met Thomas Maurice Grover, Jr., fell in love, and married on June 3, 1956. 

As Tom studied petroleum engineering at Texas A&M College, Jeanette worked to support them, giving birth to Marisa and Monica, and starred as Lady Macbeth with the Aggie Players in the college production of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”.  Upon graduation and moving towns with the oil business, Mom transformed many houses into homes for her growing family as Michele was born in Oklahoma, and then Guy in Corpus Christi. 

Once settled in Portland in 1964, Jeanette established friendships and relationships that would bring her much joy and satisfaction. As a professional, she held administrative positions with a CPA firm and an architecture firm, served as City Secretary for Portland, and became a small business owner with her “Gifts to Go” idea.  As a wife, she planned events for the Bayshore Dance Club and AIME wives. As a friend, she played bridge and enjoyed dinners and trips with the Over the Hill gang.  As a mom, she led the East Cliff PTA, was a fun Camp Fire Girls leader, and organized family holidays and trips.  As a grandmother, she ran Camp Nonna each summer with fun activities planned both day and night.  She will be remembered for her big smile, her generosity, her style, and her love for Tom and her family.  She will be missed by many. 

Jeanette is survived by her children and their spouses, Marisa and Coby Osborne, Monica and Dean Deckard, and Guy and Jill Grover, her grandchildren, Jacob, Honore’, Mindy, Kip, Aubri (Ricky), and Brynn, her great-grandsons, Otto, Sutton and Maverick, her brother, Warren George Kolar and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and infant sister, Eunice Jo, her husband of 65 years, Tom, and her daughter, Michele.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 29, 2023 at Winsteads’ Funeral Home in Portland, Texas.  Visitation will start at 9:00 am with her memorial service following at 10:00 am.  After the service, all are invited to dedicate her plaque on Dad’s memorial bench overlooking the bay at Violet Andrews Park.

 Our family would like to thank the caring staff at Brookdale Northshore for their support and kindness to our parents.  We also thank Harbor Hospice and the team of caregivers led by Elether (Lee) Johnson – Monica, Jessica, Sylvia, Diana, Sarah, Jasmine and Rita for their loving care of our mom.