Frances M. Grace Christison
Frances Madge Grace Christison, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. She was born on October 30, 1924, in El Dorado, Ark., the only child of Frances Marion Belky Grace and Harold Byrd Grace.
Madge attended schools in El Dorado then moved with her family to Hot Springs, Ark., where she graduated from Hot Springs High School and was a member of DBS Sorority. After high school, Madge attended Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, La., and then the University of Arkansas, where she was a journalism and music major and a member of Chi Omega Sorority. Following college, Madge was a columnist for the Hot Springs Sentinel-Record before moving to Little Rock and working for a public relations firm.
She returned to Hot Springs, worked for Arkansas Bank and Trust Co. and was a member of First United Methodist Church, the Hot Springs Country Club, and Junior Auxiliary. Madge married Wayne Allen Christion and lived in Columbus, Ohio, with her family for eight years, after which they made moves to Cincinnati, Ohio, Dallas, Texas, and Nashville, Tenn., for his career. Madge and Wayne retired to their lake home on Lake Hamilton where they enjoyed outings on the lake and entertained family and friends.
She was also a member of the Chi Omega Alumni, Hot Springs Music Club and Hope Presbyterian Church (formerly Covenant Presbyterian Church). She was passionate about her family and her faith, taught Bible studies, enjoyed cooking and entertaining, playing the piano, feeding and watching her backyard birds, and cuddling with her dogs. Most importantly, “Meemaw,” as known to her grandchildren, was a wonderful grandmother who loved spending time with her precious grandchildren.
Madge is survived by her daughters, Randi Ballard (Barry), of Hot Springs, and Laurie Smith (Ted), of Conway; her four beloved grandchildren, Kathryn Ballard Morat (Crate), of Indianapolis, Ind., Lee Ballard (Briana), of Coral Springs, Fla., Emily Smith Munn (Josh), of Houston, Texas, and Margaret Smith (fiancé Adam Lee), of San Francisco, Calif.; and her great-grandchildren, Violet Isabelle Ballard and Charlotte Grace Munn. She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Kathryn Gardner, of Jacksonville, Ill.; her brother-in-law and sister-inlaw Ralph and Liz Christison, of Peru, Ill.; and her nieces and nephews, as well as special longtime friends, Sue Magby and Eva Bailey, both of Pearcy.
The family wishes to thank her special companion and caregiver, Veronica Blair, for her loving and devoted care. Deep appreciation is also extended to Arkansas Hospice and the 5thfloor in-hospital hospice team for their excellent and compassionate care during the last 12 days of her life. Madge was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Wayne.
A celebration of Madge’s life will be held at 11:15 a.m. Monday at Hope Presbyterian Church,
836 Shady Grove Road, Hot Springs, followed by a time of visitation with the family. Burial will precede the service at 10 a.m. in Greenwood Cemetery, Fifth and Greenwood Streets, Hot Springs.
Memorials may be made to Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic, 133 Arbor Street, Hot Springs, AR, 71901 or Hope Presbyterian Church, 836 Shady Grove Road, Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Online obituary and guestbook are available at http:// www.GrossFuneralHome.com.