Robert Grable Obituary

Fort Worth, Texas - Robert (Bob) Cole Grable, a faithful servant of Christ Jesus, passed unexpectedly in his sleep during the early morning of 20 April 2023, one day shy of his seventy-seventh birthday. He leaves behind his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, and family, who while deeply grieving his loss, are anchored in the knowledge that he is in the presence of his Savior and Redeemer in heaven. A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a. m. Saturday, April 29, at St. Andrew's Anglican Church, 917 Lamar Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76102 with a Burial immediately following at Greenwood Memorial Park, 3100 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76107. The family will receive guests at a reception following at River Crest Country Club. The family gives thanks to almighty God for the life of their adored Bob who gave and loved abundantly out of his noble and kind spirit to so many. "I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. " John 10:9-11. Born in San Antonio, Bob was the middle child of Charles Francis Grable and Esther DeBord Grable. Bob was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and Dallas. As a boy, Bob's father and mother, instilled in Bob a strong work-ethic, a devotion to family, a love of country and a Christian faith which Bob would carry with him throughout his life. During his youth in Tulsa, Bob ran a paper route for the Tulsa Tribune throughout his neighborhood in the early morning and evening hours before and after school earning income to help support himself and his family. Bob and his brother Charles became Boy Scouts which they would continue with through high school achieving Star and Eagle Scout ranks respectively. Bob learned early on the value of hard work and integrity. In Dallas, Bob attended Hillcrest High School graduating in 1964. God gifted Bob with natural athletic ability and coordination which enabled him to excel as a Varsity basketball player for Hillcrest. Bob also had a gifted mind and intellect which he applied in his studies earning high marks on the way to graduating. More important to Bob than athletic and academic accolades however, were the dear and lifelong friendships that Bob formed while a student at Hillcrest which would include his future wife, Martha Hallman. Upon graduating from Hillcrest, Bob enrolled as a freshman at the University of California at Los Angeles (in part to be near his mother and father who has relocated to the area for work). Bob decided to come back to Dallas to join his brother at Southern Methodist University where he graduated in 1968. During his time at SMU Bob was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity where he made treasured friendships. On June 29, 1968 Bob and Marty were married in Dallas. They spent the next three years in Austin where Bob attended the University of Texas Law School while Marty taught elementary school. Bob earned high honors at UT Law School graduating as the Grand Chancellor in 1971. Bob loved his time at UT Law where he made many life-long friends. He was a loyal supporter of the school throughout the rest of his life. While preparing to enter law school Bob committed to join the United States Navy upon graduation. In October 1971 Bob started active duty where he served as a Naval Legal Officer in the Judge Advocate General Corps in commands throughout the United States including Rhode Island and eventually Corpus Christi where he was honorably discharged in 1975 as a Lieutenant. Bob and Marty settled in Austin where Bob joined the firm of Graves, Dougherty, Hearon, Moody & Garwood. At Graves, Dougherty Bob had the good fortune to work with Dan Moody, Jr. who became a mentor and friend to Bob. Under Dan Moody's guidance Bob began to serve firm clients in oil and gas matters, including regulatory work at the Railroad Commission. In 1979, Bob and Marty's lives changed when Dee Kelly, Mark Hart and Bill Hallman extended an offer to Bob, Dan Settle, Glen Johnson and Pete Geren to form the firm of Kelly Hart & Hallman in Fort Worth. Bob greatly admired Dee Kelly, with whom he practiced law continuously for the next thirty-six years until Mr. Kelly's passing. Together with Mr. Kelly, Bob represented Burnett Oil Company and the Bass and Fortson families in their oil and gas businesses for many years, forming trusted relationships and friendships. Bob would become a trusted advisor and counselor to the Fortson family and the Kimbell Art Foundation. He worked on many developments for the Kimbell Art Museum, including the legal aspects of several significant acquisitions works and antiquities and the design and construction of the Renzo Piano Pavilion. Bob developed an expertise in oil, gas and mineral law, a specialty in which he became Board Certified by the State Bar of Texas. During his career Bob served as the Chair of the Oil, Gas & Mineral Law Section of the State Bar of Texas and was the longtime chair and senior member of the firm's Oil and Gas section. Bob also served as a member of the firm's Executive Committee for many years, helping to lead the firm to continued growth and success. His kind heart and care for others extended to all persons at the firm and he was widely admired. Over the years Bob had many assistants and paralegals with whom he worked closely and who loved Bob dearly. He treated each with dignity and respect, often providing counsel and advice in times of need. Bob was among the few lawyers whose practice combined sophisticated energy transactions, litigation and administrative hearing work. Bob thrived on the often scientific and mathematical aspects of oil and gas geology, seismology, geophysics and subsurface operations, production, treatment and marketing. This enabled him to be a very effective advocate for his clients. Bob's abilities led to him being recognized with many honors including inclusion in Best Lawyers in America and Texas Super Lawyers. Bob also had the honor of serving as a member of the Board of Directors of ATMOS Energy Corporation and as a trustee on the University of Texas Law School Foundation from 2001-2021 (serving as the Board chair from 2007-2010). Bob and Marty made many dear friendships through Bob's service on the Board of ATMOS and as a trustee of the Foundation. Bob was happiest on the golf course. He had a passion for golf and its history and was a regular participant in the River Crest Country Club "gangsome" for many years. Over the years he would enjoy many golf trips with his Kelly Hart partners Don Herrmann, Dan Settle, Don Plattsmier and Dee Kelly, Jr. He loved these trips and his friends. Bob also enjoyed spending summers in Santa Fe, New Mexico with Marty and playing the Sunrise and Sunset courses at Las Campanas Club where he had many close friends and golfing buddies. The birth of his two granddaughters gave great joy to Bob. He loved nothing more than being a granddad and spending time with them. Bob was always up for their adventures whether it was going for a hike in Santa Fe or helping with math homework, for which he was quite suited. Above all, Bob was a devoted husband and father and man of faith who loved and cared for his family to the end. He was dearly loved and will be greatly missed. We look forward to the time when we will be reunited with our precious Bob in heaven. "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. " Job 19:25-27. Bob was preceded in death by his mother Esther and father Charles and his beloved father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leroy Hallman and Betty Hallman. He is survived by his dear wife Marty of Fort Worth, his son, Jeffrey Grable and his wife Maureen of Fort Worth, his daughter Laura Thomas and her husband Ben Thomas of Johnson City, his granddaughters Annabelle Grable and Mary Frances Grable of Fort Worth, his brother Charles Grable of Houston, his sister Sue Stamper of Owen County, Kentucky and extended family. Memorials may be made to St. Andrew's Anglican Church, Fort Worth or to the Union Gospel Mission of Fort Worth.