Mary Ann Gray
February 28, 1932 ~ February 22, 2013
Resided in:
Alexandria, VA
Mary Ann Gray, resident of Alexandria VA, died Friday February 22, 2013 at the age of 81.
She was born in 1932, to Anne and Frank Sloop. She grew up in Asheville, and met Bill Gray in high school. She never pursued a higher education, but Mr. Gray entered the Air Force, got a degree from Stanford, and during his service years they lived in Mississippi, Okinawa, California, Nebraska, Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. She and Bill had four children together.
Mr. Gray retired from the Air Force and went to work for the government in Washington, D.C. Their boys grew up at the house at 1908 Rampart Dr in Alexandria, VA, from junior high on. In 1971, their daughter, Greta, died of cancer at the age of 12 in that house, making Mrs. Gray the second member of the family to pass away there.
Mrs. Gray was a homemaker who raised four loving children and two grandchildren, and supported all her husband's moves and career changes. She was a marvelous mother who sacrificed for and nurtured her children and grandchildren. She never got over the loss of her only daughter, and the loss of her mother in 1995 was also difficult. But ever smiling and full of encouragement, she had a quiet, gentle yet strong spirit that we will sorely miss. The death of her husband in 2000 was the final blow; she's waited to join him for almost 13 years. She loved the Lord just as Mr. Gray did. Her family has no doubt about her eternal destination.
She was a gifted crafter, gardner, painter, quilter, and ever making posters for school, church and community activities. The best of her spiritual gifts: nurturer, encourager, supporter, mentor, shepherdess. A Godly woman who in her quiet way displayed a strength, an example of a life well lived and worth emulating.
She is survived by one brother, Charles Sloop and his wife Marge and their two daughters. She is also survived by three sons, Robert; Jim and his wife Tia, and Gordon and his wife Alexandra, two grandchildren Michael and Whitney and one step-grandson, Victor.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 9, 2013 in the Patton Avenue Chapel of Groce Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Snyder officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Children's Hospital, 111 Michigan Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20010, (301) 565-8500.
Although it is sad for those left behind to experience grief when someone you love – who was such a large part of your life leave, I know she is celebrating with your dad and others she loved. A few months ago, a friend sent this me, hope it helps ease your heart. Bishop Trent was a missionary to the Philippians and wrote the following about dying. What is dying? A ship sails and I stand watching till she fades on the horizon, and someone at my side says, “She is gone.” Gone where? Gone from my sight, that is all; she is just as large as when I saw her… The diminished size and total loss of sight is in me, not in her, and just at the moment when someone at my side says, “she is gone,” there are others who are watching her coming, and other voices take up a glad shout ‘there she comes!’ and that is dying. Love,prayers & travel mercies,
I have fond memories of visiting the Grays in 1977 when I was in the army. Bill took me to the newly opened Air and Space Museum.
Only One Aunt
Millions of stars in the heavens above,
Only one aunt to cherish and love.
Thousands and thousands of flowers and trees,
Hundreds and hundreds of mountains and seas.
Everything multiplied over and over,
Robins and butterflies, bees in the clover.
Many good friends to think the world of,
But only one aunt to cherish and love.
You will so lovingly be missed and memories of you cherished for a lifetime. I am sorry that we didn’t get to spend a lot of time together, but I will always have the memories from each of those visits and phone calls that will forever be with me.
I love you!
Jan
A word of comfort in your time of sorrow, the Bible promises ‘He will actually swallow up death forever…the Sovereign Lord will wipe the tears from all faces…..'(Isaiah 25:8) May the love of family and friends carry you through your grief.