Willie Mae Gray

Willie Mae Gray, longtime Sand Springs area resident, passed away Thursday, January 8, 2004 at the Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, Texas at the age of eighty-three years, nine months and fifteen days.

Willie was born March 23, 1920 in Oilton, Oklahoma. She was the daughter of Samuel and Minnie Mae Graham. After the death of her father in 1924, Willie moved with her mother, sister and brother to Bald Hill, Oklahoma near Beggs. The family then later returned to Oilton where Willie attended school.

She was married to Derris Eugene Gray at Dixie, Oklahoma on December 30, 1936. They made their initial home in Sand Springs in 1937 and remained there together until the death of Derris on June 18, 1982. Willie continued to reside in the Sand Springs/Sapulpa area until the time of he death.

Although Willie devoted her life to her husband and children; she worked for a short time during World War II at Southwest Porcelain and then after her children where raised worked as a cook at the Keystone Elementary School.

Willie was a member of the Friendship Community Church in Mannford. Her hobbies included crocheting, quilting, canning and making jelly. She also liked spending time fishing and gardening. She enjoyed reading craft books, Reader's Digest and Grit, however, her favorite book was the bible, which she read daily. She also enjoyed reading the daily devotionals in the Guidepost. Her favorite pastime was spending time with her family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to her father and husband, she was preceded in death by her mother; daughter, Dorothy Pauline Horton; granddaughter, Patricia Lynn Freyermuth; sister, Pearl Casey; and a brother, Clifford Graham.

She is survived by her son and his wife, William Paul and Sharon Gray of Wilton, Iowa; sister, Elnora Williams of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; ;eight grandchildren including: Terry Alan Horton of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, Marty Sue Cornish of Berryhill, Oklahoma, Ricky Lee Horton of Wichita, Kansas, Marcy Kay Young of Allen, Texas, Scott Wesley Gray of Wilton, Iowa and, Steven Wayne Gray of Wilton, Iowa; son-in-law, Johnny Lee Horton of the home; and a sister-in-law, Wilma Gray of Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Graveside funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Monday, January 12, 2004 at the Highland Cemetery in Oilton, Oklahoma with Rev. Gene Varnell officiating. Burial will be under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Willie Mae Gray at www.chapman-black.com..