MATRIARCH OF STYLE: MARY ALICE McVOY

There’s something to be said about an heirloom of any kind, whether it’s a piece of furniture or silver or even just a family story that transcends the generations. Whatever it is, it was significant enough for someone to hold steadfast to it for years – decades, even – and then be selfless enough to share it with the people she loves, the descendants who will be entrusted with its care, the same people who will carry on her legacy.

That was the story of Mary Alice “Granzie” McVoy. Born and raised in Crystal City, Texas, a tiny town southwest of San Antonio, it’s safe to say her lifelong affinity for Southwestern style is something she came by honestly. As we well know from Cheryl’s design influences, when you spend your upbringing surrounded by a blend of cultures, it imprints on you in an indelible way.

“She always had a massive appreciation for Native American culture and the cultures of the southwest, and the beauty that is found in it,” shared her granddaughter, Taylor Ledden. “Her style was southwestern through and through!”

Naturally, that’s a niche we know well, and it almost feels inevitable that Mary Alice would find Double D Ranch.

“Granzie has been a longtime admirer of Double D, without a doubt her favorite brand,” said Taylor. “My dad said she might’ve discovered it through Cowboys & Indians magazine, or on a trip to New Mexico. Since I’ve been alive, I can’t remember a single other brand that she talked about or fawned over more. She has been wearing Double D from the start, and she has some fabulous vintage outfits to prove it! Any time she’d show off a piece of DDR, she’d have a smile on her face and say, ‘This is Double D, you know.’ ”

Her bond with the brand went beyond your average fashionista’s affinity for a certain look. Mary Alice herself made, designed, and sold clothes. For years, she owned a dress shop in Crystal City, called A-Mano II.

“She carried everything,” Taylor said. “She was an expert clothing, jewelry, and purse-maker; she loved making dresses, shirts, and vests. She sold many things that she and her friends made, and if she didn’t make it, she imported the jewelry from places like Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Mexico. And of course, Double D! She sold a lot of broomstick skirts and scout jackets, and she hosted many fashion shows that featured Double D.”

As a fellow dressmaker, Mary Alice had a deeper appreciation than most for the intricacies that go into creating clothing.

“She appreciated the quality of construction of DDR garments and the outstanding quality of their fabric choices,” explained Taylor. “She also appreciated that Cheryl researched the history and incorporated it into the designs. Granzie loved the beautiful detailing – the early hairpipe designs, the oxidized silver studs and conchos, and the turquoise. I think, above all, she loved the unique timelessness of the designs.”

Perhaps it’s that timelessness that caused Mary Alice to hang on to so much of her Double D for life, turning her wardrobe into a veritable treasure chest of heirlooms that she’s handed down to daughters, daughters-in-law, and now, granddaughters – a three-generations bond over something so seemingly simple as clothing.

“We all love and respect the quality and style of the brand,” Taylor said. “There are not many brands that can be passed down from generation to generation and hold up on the quality the way Double D can! The southwestern style resonates with all of us; I think we all have our favorite ways to express it, but we can all agree Granzie and Double D are huge inspirations.”

And, we’d be remiss not to mention that her love for DDR is not the only thing she passed down.

“Granzie taught all of her kids and grandkids and great-grandkids how to sew,” Taylor said. “And taught most of us how to make jewelry.”

A gift that keeps on giving, and one they’ll undoubtedly cherish even more now. Sadly, Mary Alice passed away on February 4, 2026, at the age of 92. She leaves behind a large void in her family, perhaps an even larger collection of DDR, and a legacy worth living by.

“If she had a life motto, it was to treat people as you’d like to be treated,” shared her son, Cal Marsh. “She was very service minded; the kind of woman who does it all and does it all with grace and a smile on her face. She was a force to be reckoned with.”

May she rest in peace – and style.