Mary Gray

Mary Gray age 95 of Macungie, Pennsylvania, formerly of Miles, Iowa passed away peacefully Saturday, November 5, 2016. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at the Presbyterian Church in Miles. Burial will take place in Miles Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5:00 -8:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at Law-Jones Funeral Home in Preston, Iowa. Memorials may be given to the Presbyterian Church in Miles in Mary’s memory.
Mary was born August 13, 1921 in Belmont, Wisconsin, the daughter of John H and Sophia (Riechers) Rehmstedt. She was educated in Belmont, Wisconsin public schools and worked as a linotype operator at the Belmont local newspaper and also at Medley’s grocery store. In 1941, she moved to Sabula, Iowa and was employed at the Savanna Ordnance Depot, Illinois as a munitions handler where she met her husband. Mary was a homemaker who treasured taking care of her family. She was united in marriage to Clif Gray on July 11, 1943 in Clinton, Iowa. Mary and Clif traveled throughout the world through Clif’s employment with the US Army. They lived in Sabula, Iowa; Hanover, Illinois; Seneca, New York; Igloo, South Dakota; Captieux, France; Richmond, Kentucky; Yokohama, Japan; Chambersburg, Pennsylvania; Pueblo, Colorado; Hermiston, Oregon; and Kaiserslautern, Germany. Mary and Clif retired in Miles, Iowa in 1982. Mary was a member of the Miles, Iowa Presbyterian Church since 1982.
Mary enjoyed playing bridge (and countless other card games); cooking and baking and sharing the bounty with friends and family; crocheting afghans and completing needlepoint projects; spending time with friends and family; canning the vegetables from her husband’s gardens; teaching Sunday school; and leading various spouse’s clubs at many military bases. Mary was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and loved watching the games both at Wrigley Field and on WGN. She also rooted for the Iowa Hawkeye men’s basketball team and rarely missed a televised game. Mary also supported her children’s sports and school activities through fund raising, planning, and attending the activities and events. Throughout Mary’s travels, she always maintained and cherished close relationships with her and her husband’s siblings and their families. Mary also cherished many life-long friendships dating back to elementary school and from her many stops along the way. In later years Mary lived with her son, John in Miles, Iowa and with her daughter, Jaclyn in Macungie, Pennsylvania before moving to Lehigh Commons Assisted Living facility in Macungie, Pennsylvania.
Mary will be lovingly remembered by her children: Jaclyn (David) Greff, Macungie, PA; James (Rachel) Gray, Brandon, FL; John (Loretta) Gray, Lindale, TX; Jerry (Kathleen Bower) Gray, Flower Mound, TX; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clifton W. Gray; daughter in-laws, Karen (Lucich) Gray and Rita (Gardner) Gray; brothers, Delbert “Burr” (Marian) Rehmstedt and John “Jack” (Eila) Rehmstedt; sisters, Evelyn (William) Brugger, Emmaline (Harry) Engelke, Idella (Edward) Amenda, and Bernice (Harley) Anderson. The family would like to give special thanks to Lehigh Commons Assisted Living for all their loving care over the past few years.