Gwendolyn Grissett

Myrna Gwendolyn (Shiver) Grissett, 76, left this world on Monday, Sept. 14, and took up eternal residence in a better place. She grew up in Tampa, where her father was a door-to-door salesman and her mother worked in a box-making factory. She often rode the bus to Ybor City and loved Cuban sandwiches from the Silver Ring Cafe. Gwen, as she was known to her family and friends, went to school at Hillsborough High School, where she met the love of her life, James Douglas Grissett - who has been waiting for Gwen the past two years in the great beyond. After high school, Gwen attended Orange Memorial, a training school for nurses. She graduated No. 1 in her class and became a Registered Nurse. Shortly after graduation, she and James married and moved to Cocoa Beach, Fla., where James was stationed as the youngest lieutenant at Patrick Air Force Base. Several months later, Gwen and James drove their VW bug to Delta Junction, Alaska, where James worked as an engineer at a U.S. Air Force satellite tracking station. Gwen worked with a local doctor treating local people as well as Alaskan natives. Following stops in Hampton and Williamsburg, Virginia, Gwen and family moved to Pensacola. Gwen was a school secretary for many years before taking a job as an orthopedic nurse. Gwen loved NPR programs, "Masterpiece" on PBS and British comedies. She was a voracious reader and loved to crochet. She was a world traveler with passport stamps from Barcelona, London, Paris, Moscow, Germany, Australia and New Zealand. She displayed fun and gayety with her grandchildren, whom she fawned over. She delighted in packaging their gifts in creative ways, including McDonald's french fry containers, plastic labyrinths, homemade soap and puzzles shut tight by combination locks. She luxuriated in evening walks on Pensacola Beach and enjoyed the temperate summers in North Carolina, where the soaring views from the family mountain house at 5,100 feet put her nearly at the height of angels. Gwen is survived by her three children and their spouses, Jennifer (Paul), Michael (Debbie) and Stephanie (Marlon), as well as her six grandchildren, Brittney, Allen, Rebekah, Julie, Katie and Maria, and her brother James "Sonny" Shiver. Sincere thanks go to Dr. Harish Malhotra, Marcella, and the staff at the Sacred Heart Cancer Center for their care during her illness. In addition, the family would like to express our thanks to Covenant Hospice of Milton, in particular, Connie, Aeriel, Amanda, Laura, and Barbara. Memorial contributions may be made to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital or Cancer Center https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/SacredHeartFoundation), American Cancer Society (https://donate.cancer.org) or Covenant Hospice (https://www.choosecovenant.org/hospice). The family will celebrate Gwen’s life privately with friends. Contact Faith Chapel or email Gwen’s daughter at JenniferGruber@yahoo.com.

Tributes

Gwendolyn Grissett

July 4, 1939 - September 14, 2015