Ethel Marie Gray, a beautiful soul, left this life and joined her beloved Savior on Friday, April 9, 2021 at the age of 77 years, 2 months and 20 days. She was born in Orangeville, Texas on Thursday, Jan. 20, 1944 to Lawrence Burden, Jr., and Louise (Brown) Burden. Ethel married her husband James “J.T.” Gray in Lubbock, Texas on August 27, 1960.
Ethel was a gardener who took great pleasure in watching plants grow and caring for her home and family. She created delicious meals for her loved ones, was an avid reader, and could often be found with a needle and thread in her hand. Ethel always had a deep desire to see new places, she dedicated herself to serving others through her church as a missionary taking the Gospel of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to Africa, Russia, and Mexico. She always looked forward to spending time on a beach with the sun on her face, the wind in her hair, and the sound of crashing waves. She will be missed dearly by all of those who knew and loved her.
Mrs. Gray is survived by her daughters, Debra Lambert and husband Lee of Garland, Texas, Cathy Alley and husband Jimmy of Yuba, Okla., and Carol Gray of Yuba, Okla.; son, Shannon Gray and wife Jamie of Yuba, Okla.; sister, Faye Brown (Bill) of Ada, Okla.; brother, Larry Burden of Yuba, Okla.; grandchildren: Vanessa Hinnebush and husband Todd of Sherman, Texas, Caleb Alley and wife Christina of Achille, Okla., OSSA Hannah Alley of Key West, Fla., Jake Townsend and wife Alli of Durant, Okla., Taylor Gray, and wife Kayla of Yuba, Okla., Taylor Michele Williams of Durant, Okla., and 14 great-grandchildren.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband, James “J.T”. Gray; parents, Lawrence Jr. and Louise Burden, and three sisters.
Family hour will be from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13 at the Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla.
A celebration of her life will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 14 at the Yuba First Baptist Church with Mike Moody and Marty Hutchings officiating. Her final earthly resting place will be the Yarnaby Cemetery with Jake Townsend, Taylor Gray, Caleb Alley, Todd Hinnebush, Ben Trejo, and Leslie Berger as her pallbearers.
Services are under the direction of Holmes~Coffey~Murray Funeral Home in Durant, Okla. www.holmescoffeymurray.com