December 17, 2008

NELLIE MAE GRAY

 

Funeral for Nellie Mae Gray of Rusk, 95, was at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, at Autry Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. R. S. Dyess and the Rev. Larry Smith officiating. Burial was in McDonald Cemetery.

Mrs. Gray died Dec. 8. She was born Jan. 26, 1913, in Rusk. She graduated from Rusk High School in 1931 and was recently honored as the oldest known graduate of Rusk High School. Mrs. Gray received bachelor and Master of Education degrees from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches. She taught elementary school for 35 years. Mrs. Gray had the highest amateur ham radio license that can be obtained.

She taught Sunday school at her church for many years and Bible school at her church for 15 consecutive years. At the end of her life she was a member of the East Side Baptist Church in Rusk.

Mrs. Gray entered Lexington Place on Dec. 27, 1997.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Tommie Allen Gray; father, Joe Kennedy; mother, Matilda Kennedy; son, Winfred Gray; brothers, Wade and Josie Kennedy; and sister, Ella Traylor.

Survivors are her two sons and daughters-in-law, Albert Glen and JoAnn Gray of Houston, Wayne and Joyce Gray of Troup; another daughter in law, Joy Gray of New Summerfield; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Roy and Louise Kennedy and William and Lola Kennedy all of Rusk; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Mary Parsons of Lewisville and Ethel and Douglas Parsons of Rusk; six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Merle Duty, Forrest Dyess, Don Parsons, Elmer Kennedy, Dennis Kennedy, Mike Parsons, Keith Gray and Roy Traylor. Memorials may be made to a charity of choice.

Information from The Cherokeean Herald