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A funeral service for U.S. Rep. Kay Granger was held at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth on Aug. 22. The longtime Fort Worth congresswoman died on Aug. 2.<\/p>\n
Eleanor Dearman<\/p>\n
Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n
U.S. Rep. Kay Granger\u2019s legacy as a leader in North Texas and Washington was honored at a Saturday funeral service.<\/p>\n
The pews of First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth were filled with family, friends and former colleagues as Rev. Danny Tenney delivered a homily outlining the congresswoman\u2019s life\u2019s work \u2014 her impact as a teacher who would eventually rise in the ranks of Congress, breaking barriers along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet us celebrate a life well-lived,\u201d Tenney said, leading guests in prayer. \u201cLet us celebrate a life now lived in perpetual presence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Granger died peacefully, surrounded by family members, on Aug. 2<\/a> following an \u201caggressive late battle with Alzheimer\u2019s,\u201d according to her obituary.<\/a><\/p>\n Her casket sat at the front of the church, draped with an American flag. An organist played \u201cMy Country \u2018Tis of Thee\u201d during a processional at the start of the ceremony.<\/p>\n Granger, remembered as tough but fair,<\/a> joined Congress in 1997, representing Texas\u2019 12th Congressional District. She held the office for nearly three decades, climbing the ranks in Washington to eventually become the chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.<\/p>\n She was the first Republican woman to hold the leadership role \u2014 adding to her accolades of serving as Fort Worth\u2019s first female mayor and the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the U.S. House.<\/p>\n Much of her time in Congress was marked by her focus on the defense industry and Fort Worth, including her work around the Central City Flood Control Project, often called the Panther Island project.<\/p>\n Granger announced she wouldn\u2019t seek re-election in November 2023. Near the end of her time in office, it was reported that she was experiencing health challenges.<\/a><\/p>\n A private service for family and invited guests will be Monday in Fort Worth.<\/p>\n Granger was humble, Tenney said. He urged others to mirror her best qualities: Putting others before self and focusing on unity for the common good.<\/p>\n \u201cShe lived a life worth being copied,\u201d U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, a Willow Park Republican, said after Saturday\u2019s funeral.<\/p>\n Other elected officials in attendance included Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, U.S. Rep. Craig Goldman, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey and U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions.<\/p>\n Veasey and Goldman recently introduced a memorial resolution in Washington that was cosponsored by members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas.<\/p>\n \u201cWe worked on things that were good for Fort Worth, and it was almost like she was still our mayor when she was a member of Congress,\u201d said Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat.<\/p>\n The two never talked about partisan issues, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were just two people from Fort Worth who got along really well,\u201d Veasey said.<\/p>\n Her legacy will last for lifetimes, said Parker, who worked as an aide for Granger and on her campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was truly one of a kind,\u201d Parker said.<\/p>\n Granger\u2019s trailblazing life is well-known, but her son JD Granger, speaking on behalf of his siblings Brandon Granger and Chelsea Hughes, paid tribute to his mother with accounts of her everyday life.<\/p>\n \u201cShe was a very normal person,\u201d JD Granger said, describing struggles that he said made her relatable and down to earth.<\/p>\n She was funny, he said, recounting stories that offered levity to the emotional day. Stories of childhood rules, clothing snafus and Granger as a grandmother got laughs from listeners.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was our mom, and that was your Kay,\u201d JD Granger said, reiterating her belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things during his remarks.<\/p>\n He ended his comments by emphasizing his mother\u2019s love of Fort Worth and those there to honor her.<\/p>\n \u201cShe loved you, and Mom, we love you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n This story was originally published August 22, 2026 at 3:15 PM.<\/p>\n Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.
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