Obituaries by Molly Ivins

“My father and I had many bitter quarrels about the civil-rights movement and the Vietnam War. But I also remember how he made wonderful breakfasts every Sunday, and took us all on the Great American Vacation in the West. (“We’re off, like a dirty shirt!”)” Read more

“When it came to the “memorials preferred” on the obit form, we put in her favorite causes, but if you truly wanted to memorialize my mother, you would eat a piece of fudge today, hug someone you love, and be blindingly pleasant to a total stranger.” Read more

“Joe was fond of my late dog Sh-t, who spent many hours happily sleeping underneath his desk. Sh-t, our office dog, marplotted her way through life like a canine version of Joe Btfsplpk. Joe’s role in the running saga of the disasters created by this well-intentioned beast was the messenger-who-brings-the-bad-news.” Read more

“I don’t know that Parten was ever liberal in his views, but he was an immensely civilized man, with a deep reverance for the Constitution. He read widely and had great faith in this country. Of course, he had himself gone from picking cotton in East Texas as a boy to the university and on to become one of the wealthiest men in the country. So he always worked to make sure others had the same kind of opportunities.” Read more