Gretta Stewart Dameron Kaufman

Gretta embodied the description of a gracious, Southern lady. She was a loving wife and mother, devoted friend, and accomplished leader of community and church endeavors. Gretta was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas on December 27, 1929 to Harry and Zelna Dameron. An only child, Gretta learned resiliency, strength, and solidified her unwavering faith early in life having lost her birth mother at the age of five, and her father and stepmother at the age of twenty, in the same year. She was pre-deceased by her birth mother and father, stepmother, Lillian Dameron, and husband of 63 years, Joseph Allen Kaufman.

Gretta spent her childhood in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and established lifelong friendships in her youth, one of whom would ultimately become her husband and the love of her life. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a joint degree in Business and English, where she was also an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Upon graduation, following in her stepmother’s footsteps, she had a career when ‘career women’ were a minority. She was serving as the Operations and Methods Manager at the Army and Navy Hospital when her childhood sweetheart, Joe A. Kaufman, would re-enter her life upon returning from the Korean War.

After marriage, Gretta and Joe moved to San Antonio and then onto Houston, Texas as Joe progressed in his career with Westinghouse. Gretta, a talented folk artist and painter, opened The Red Bow, a store known for its custom art work and whimsical gift items. After bearing two children, Gretchen and Kristin, the family moved back to Hot Springs in 1963 where they restored the historic home in which they lived for the remainder of their lives together.

Gretta was a born leader who lived a life of humble contribution and community service. Her balanced demeanor and astute business mind were gifts to the many endeavors to which she contributed. She served as President of virtually every organization of which she was a part, including: Jones School PTA, Junior Auxiliary, Criterion, PEO, First United Methodist Women, Lotus Club, Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association, and OTC Investment Club. She was the Chairperson for the YWCA Capital Campaign raising funds of over $1 million to update and improve the Garland County YWCA facility at that time. She was a founding board member of the Rosenzweig Fund for Interfaith Activities to promote positive relations among diverse religions. Her reputation, as stated by the founder of this organization bearing his name, was ‘if you wanted a job done right - just ask Gretta’. In addition to her numerous civic and church endeavors, she also enjoyed a fulfilling and successful 30 year career with Doncaster, a Tanner Company, relatively late in life.

Gretta was a woman of enlightened wisdom and profound intuition. She established strong and deeply rooted relationships with people from all walks of life and had a gift of connecting with strangers – as we affectionately would say: ‘she could talk to the wall and the wall would even talk back’. If you wanted to have fun – Gretta was your girl. She was quick to laugh and consistently brought joy and light to a room. One always felt seen and appreciated in her presence. Holding fast to her belief of always putting her best foot forward, up until her last day, she was dressed, with her nails and hair done, and her ‘lips’ on. Her daughters steadfastly believe the character, faith, and integrity in which their momma and daddy lived and modeled throughout their lives became the bedrock on which their own lives were formed. They rejoice and celebrate a life well lived and knowing she and her husband, their daddy, are dancing and laughing together again.

Gretchen and Kristin wish to thank Gretta’s devoted caregivers, Dionne Davies and Christine Blackmon, for their constancy and unflinching care over the past two years, and to Sheri Neal, our dear family friend who cared for and supported mom and daddy for over 30 years. They also wish to thank the staff at Westshores Retirement Community and Dr. Janette Parchman of Lake Hamilton Family Medical for their care and concern. And finally, they wish to add how infinitely blessed and grateful they were, that in typical Joe Kaufman fashion, their father enabled them to take care of the love of his life and their beloved mother, in the most beautiful manner possible over these past few years.

Gretta is survived by her daughters, Gretchen Lee Kaufman and Kristin Stewart Kaufman, both of Dallas, Texas. Services will be held Friday, March 8th, 2019 at 11am at First United Methodist Church. Gretchen and Kristin will celebrate her life with a reception immediately following the service in Cupp Hall. As a devoted woman of faith and active member of First United Methodist Church, 1100 Central Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901; those desiring to do so may make contributions to the church in her memory, or to The Caring Place for the support of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, 101 Quapaw Avenue, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71901, or to the Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation, 6640 Riverside Drive, Suite 200 Dublin, Ohio 43017.