Patsy Ann Thomas Gryder

Patsy Ann Thomas Gryder, age 88, of Shongaloo, Louisiana, passed away on March 7, 2026, surrounded by her family. Born on May 7, 1937, in Haynesville, Louisiana, she was the daughter of Merrell and Katie Lee Edmonds Thomas.

Patsy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. She found joy in reading, working jigsaw puzzles, completing word searches, and watching hummingbirds. She cherished collecting rocks during family adventures out West. A gifted from-scratch cook, she was known for her incomparable biscuits and the mayonnaise cake she baked for every birthday. She once prepared two pecan pies for actor Michael Douglas while he was filming “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” on location, and he enjoyed one of them entirely on his own.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Robert C. Gryder; her parents; and her sisters, Marjorie Childs and Poochie Modisette. Those left to cherish her memory include her children, Ronnie Carroll Gryder (Cheryl), Sammy Darrell Gryder (Donna), Denise Annette Gryder Miller (Kevin), Kandy Kay McPherson (Scott), and Michael Craig Gryder (Paige); 14 grandchildren, Matt Gryder (Katie), Kasey Gryder (Elizabeth), Clay Gryder (Kaley), Cody Gryder (Kayla), Bradley Miller (Danielle), Ember Johnson (Zach), Josh McPherson, Zach McPherson (Carissa), Jacob McPherson, Ben McPherson, Katie McPherson, Drake Gryder, Luke Gryder, and Blake Gryder; 13 great-grandchildren, Madison Gryder (Jarrett), Reilly Gryder, Joe Gryder (Zeta), McKayla Gryder (Maddox), Rylan Gryder, Korey Gryder, Aubrey Gryder, Owen Gryder, Josie Gryder, Lily Miller, Lawson Johnson, Evangeline McPherson, and Lochlan McPherson; step-great-grandchildren Avery and Bailey Horn; two great-great-grandchildren, Ezlyn Gryder and Hudson Gryder; her siblings, Ed Thomas, Jimmy Thomas (Cindy), and Wanda Butler (Henry); niece Janice Yager; and many other relatives and friends.