Mona Maxine Gray

Mrs. Mona Maxine Gray of Peculiar, Missouri was born January 15, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri the daughter of Frank and Dessie (Taber) Martin. She departed this life on Tuesday, July 21, 2009 at Kindred Hospital, Kansas City at the age of 73 years, 6 months and 6 days.
On April 12, 1957, Mona was united in marriage to Donald Harold Gray in Raytown, Missouri.
Mona was employed as a proofreader for Beacon Press in Kansas City before her retirement. Mona loved many things, bowling, slot machines, soap operas, DOTS, Elvis and crab legs (If someone else cracked and shelled them!) Most of all Mona loved her family. She was the mom who never missed her son?s baseball games, her daughter?s rodeos, or her grandchildrens? dance recitals. She loved those grandchildren beyond reason and was the most loving, nurturing mom, grammy and great grammy ever. Sharp minded ? she always won Scrabble and delighted in doing so. Wife extraordinaire, she loved her husband, unconditionally. She was always up for a verbal spar and she prided herself on her ability to win word wars. Mom was a pint-sized lady with a mountain-sized attitude. Feisty right up to the end ? we hope heaven can handle her. We know she is beginning eternity, healthy and with Jesus. She promised to save us a spot in heaven. She was much loved and will be missed greatly by her family and friends.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Lottie Draper and Barbara Mueller.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Don Gray of the home; a son, Dennis R. Gray and wife, Julie, Pleasant Hill, Missouri; a daughter, Sandy Debrick and husband, Eric, Drexel, Missouri; 16 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; a sister, Virginia Hall, Jerome, Idaho; other relatives and many friends.
Memorial services were held Thursday, July 23, 2009 at the Dickey Funeral Home, Harrisonville, Missouri. Cremation.
Family suggest that memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.