Grace A. Tirado
Grace A. Tirado of Ruston, LA, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2020. She was born in October of 1940, to Emma & Michael Hertel in Cleveland, Ohio.
Grace was a graduate of Penn Hills High School and attended Thiel College. After college she moved to Puerto Rico and worked in the hospitality industry before moving to Scottsdale, AZ. She later moved to Naples, FL where she served as the Assistant Director of Catering & Conference Services for The Ritz Carlton for 8 years before returning to Arizona.
In 2008 she moved to Ruston, LA to be closer to her adopted family. She worked at The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce before going to work at Davison Transport/Genesis Energy. Grace was a Certified Etiquette Coach and shared her love of that as a contributing writer for Delta Style and The Ruston Daily Leader with her beloved column “Dear Aunt Grace.”
Grace loved her family, friends, & sweet dog Sasha dearly. Her most joyful times were the time she spent with all of them. She had a passion for serving her community and volunteering whenever the opportunity arose. She was very involved with The Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, The Dixie Theatre, The Ruston Peach Festival, and Grace was a devoted member of the Trinity United Methodist Church Choir.
Grace is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her sister Anita Hertel of Florida; Nephew Scott Milo and wife Jeri of Cedar Park, TX; nephew Chris Milo of Tampa, FL. Her adopted family Susan and Henry Shirley; Dorothy and Sean Welsh, children Susie and Casey; Megan and John Shirley, children Ashton, Victoria, Henley, Olivia, and Evie Rose all of Ruston, LA and many dear friends around the country.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses and doctors at Willis Knighton Hospital.
A private service will be held at Lake D’Arbonne with a celebration of life to be planned for a later date at Trinity United Methodist Church.
The family asks that any planned memorials be sent to 4 Paws, P.O. Box 101, Ruston, LA 71273 or Trinity United Methodist Church Choir, 1000 W. Woodward Ave., Ruston, LA 71270.
She always had a smile and hug.
