Grace Jacobus

Grace Jacobus died unexpectedly on April 13 at her home in Mounds at the age of 66. She was discovered when she failed to show up for a horse show, and if you knew her, you know that she would never skip a horse show on purpose.

Grace was born June 24, 1957, in Odessa, Texas, and grew up in Longview, Texas. As a kid, she spent many happy hours at the family farm in Kilgore, where she learned to ride horses and played outside with her brother Dale. In high school, Grace sang in the choir, was editor of the yearbook and was in the Viewettes drill team. She majored in math at Texas Tech University and worked on the yearbook staff.

Grace worked for more than 30 years as a programmer and IT professional in the healthcare industry. She was an implementation project manager for Optum at the time of her death.

Grace was an accomplished horsewoman who developed a passion for the Morgan horse breed in the mid-1980s. Grace, her trainer Lee Johnson and her horses amassed over 50 Morgan Grand National and World Championships along with innumerable Regional Championships over 35 happy years in the sport. She was also instrumental in running regional area Morgan horse shows and actively supported the Morgan horse youth program. She also adored her dogs and was partial to St. Bernards and long-haired dachshunds.

Grace was whip-smart and loved to laugh. She grew up in a city but loved nothing more than taking a tractor out to mow a pasture. She was loyal to her sports teams, her family and her friends.

Grace left behind her horse, Fortune's Penny Lane, and her dogs, Bernadette, Cujo, Rocky and an extra dog that was a surprise to all of us so we don't know its name. If you knew Grace, you know that any stray dog that showed up at her house in Mounds was a lucky dog indeed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roger and Mitzi Jacobus, and her brother, Dale.

Grace is survived by her sister, Laura; two nephews, Chris Jacobus and his wife, Ashley Jacobus, and Trevor Jacobus; a niece, Megan Davis and her husband, Ryan Davis; and her great nieces and nephews Nikolas Jacobus, Andrew Jacobus, Carson Jacobus, Nellie Davis, Peyton Roberts and Paisley Roberts.

There will be a memorial service on April 23 at 2 p.m at the chapel at Rader Funeral Home in Longview.

Anyone wishing to honor her memory may give to Morgan Safenet Foundation Inc. online at morgansafenet.com or by mail at 770 Bryson Lane, Midlothian, TX 76065 or to a charity of your choice.