Mary Gray

Mary Alice Gray, 94, a resident of Churubusco and widow of John C. Gray, passed away at 12:50 a. m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. She had been taken there on Sunday from the Presence Sacred Heart Home in Avilla. Mrs. Gray was born on November 28, 1919 in Smith Township, a daughter of Thomas Carl and Maude Elizabeth (Bennett) Gaff, and graduated from Churubusco High School in 1937. On June 14, 1941 she was married in Wolf Lake to John C. Gray, and was a lifelong resident of Churubusco. She worked as a teacher at the Churubusco United Methodist Pre-School for eight years, and for 12 years was employed as a security officer at L. S. Ayres in Fort Wayne, retiring from there in 1985. She was a member of the Churubusco United Methodist Church, and in her leisure time enjoyed playing Euchre and Bingo. She will also long be remembered as an expert cook and baker. Mr. Gray preceded her in death on January 2, 1969. The surviving relatives include her children Connie (Bill) Reeder of Fort Wayne, and Ann (Gary) Gordon and Robert E. (Kathy) Gray, both of Churubusco; three brothers John (Arlene) Gaff of Columbia City, Raymond L. (Katie) Gaff of Muncie, and Leonard "Jake" (Linda) Gaff of Huntertown; two sisters Barbara (Ray) Leitch of Danville, Iowa and Shirley Stamp of Churubusco; six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by three brothers Thurlo "Frog", Roger, and Carl E. Gaff; by three sisters Willodean Kirkpatrick, Ilene Gordon, and Nevah Fulk; and by a grandson L. T. Halt, Jr. Funeral services will be held at 10 a. m. on Saturday, September 20, 2014, at the Churubusco United Methodist Church with Pastor Corinne Boruff-Stucker, officiating. The family will receive friends at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco on Friday from 4 to 8 p. m., or at the church one hour prior to the service Saturday morning. Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. For those who wish, memorials may be directed to Presence Sacred Heart Home for Activities, Avilla. ***********************************************