Margaret Lucerne Gray

Margaret L. Gray, 86
September 7, 1920
Of Topeka and born and raised in Anthony, Kansas
She lived during her childhood in nearby Freeport, KS.

She passed away at the Plaza West Regional Nursing Home in Topeka, Kansas on January 31, 2007 after a brief stay. She had been in St. Francis Hospital since January 1, 2007 from having suffered a fall.

She was the daughter of John Orr and Nina Miller of Freeport, Kansas.

Margaret began school in Freeport, but when her father wanted her to plan on receiving a college education, he transferred her to live with family in Anthony, so she could attend Anthony High School from 1934-1938. She then earned a Bachelor of Science in Education with a major in Business and minors in Social Science and Physical Education in 1942 from Kansas State Teachers College, now Pittsburg State University.

Her first teaching job had been at Norwich High School in Norwich, Kansas from
1942-1946.

She married Harold L. Gray of West Salem, Illinois, on July 14, 1944 in Wichita, Kansas. They would move to San Francisco where he finished his service with the Navy. From there, they moved to New York City.

She had relocated to Topeka from Richmond, Virginia, where she had lived for many years, where she had been employed by the statistical office of the Advertising Department of Thalheimer's Department Store in 1955. She moved from the business world in 1958 and began teaching business courses at Goochland High School and then Montpelier High Schools in rural Virginia northwest of Richmond. After teaching a year at both schools, she took a business classroom position for Bon Air Correctional School, where she remained until retirement in 1985 and her move to Topeka, Kansas.

Prior to the Virginia move, she had been hired by Hearn's Department Stores in New York City in their payroll department followed by a move to Assistant to the Personnel Director from 1946-1951.

Memberships included: Member Trinity Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia,
Officer Woman's Society of Christian Service of the Methodist Church, the American Association of University Women, and member and officer of The Order of the Eastern Star. She also enjoyed attending Shrine activities in Richmond and Topeka with her husband.

Hobbies: She played sports as a young girl, including tennis and track. At Kansas State Teacher's College, she continued her athletic interest by swimming, playing tennis and bowling. All through her life, she followed sports on television and the news media. She was an avid New York Yankees fan all her life, but when she and her husband retired in Kansas, she added the Kansas City Royals to her list. On the college level, she had followed Duke University football and North Carolina basketball. In Kansas she quickly changed to The University of Kansas. During basketball season, she pulled the basketball television schedule from the Topeka Daily newspaper on a daily basis looking for KU basketball to underline the game time.

She also loved animals, especially dogs. Until the last few years, she always had a dog as a constant companion.

Survivors:
Kevin L. Gray – son of Paola, Kansas
Diane Gray – daughter-in-law – Paola, Kansas
Erika Gray – granddaughter – Lawrence, Kansas
Kyle Gray – grandson – Santa Fe, New Mexico
Marilyn Gifford – niece – Bakersfield, CA.
Mike Gifford – Marilyn's husband – Bakersfield, CA.
Eric and Brian Gifford - grandnephews
Hannah Margaret Gifford - great grand niece

Preceded in death:
Harold L. Gray – husband

Margaret will lie in state at the Penwell Gabel Southeast Chapel
at 29th and Minnesota in Topeka on Feb. 4 from 11 am to 5 pm. There
will be no formal visitation. The family will be available at the funeral
home from 4 to 5 pm.

She will be buried beside her husband at the Leavenworth National Cemetery
on Monday, Feb. 5 at 11 am.

Contributions can be made to the Bea Martin Peck Animal Shelter at
230 West 19th, Ottawa, Kansas 66067.