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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Joy Celeste
Gray
June 19, 1925 – February 21, 2018
Obituary
At the age of 92, an earthly angel received her heavenly wings on the evening of Wednesday, February 21st, 2018, just hours after Rev. Billy Graham received his. Joy (Mathews) Gray, a lifelong Tulsan who was residing in Brookdale in Tulsa, passed peacefully with her beloved granddaughter Cori Burchart at her bedside.
Joy graduated from Will Rogers High School and was an active member of Pi Beta Phi sorority at Oklahoma State University. In 1945 she married her high school sweetheart, Wayne Gray, a homebuilder that started Gray Construction Company after returning from WWII. Wayne passed away at age 36 from kidney disease contracted during his service. His bride never remarried, opting to raise their 3 children on her own. For many years she volunteered at Children's Day Nursery and the Tulsa Psychiatric Center, and worked as an executive secretary until her retirement. Joy began playing bridge in college, and was in several bridge clubs simultaneously - remaining in one club for 61 years. She was a 79-year member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church and their Wesley Fellowship class, and in recent months continued to watch the Sunday service on television.
Joy was preceded in death by her son Gary Gray (11/19/2017), husband Wayne Gray, parents Jack and Edna Mathews, step-mother Ruth Mathews, her brother Jack Mathews and his sons John and Jeff, and her in-laws Bill and Grace Gray. Survivors include daughter Sandra (Gray) Brownlee and her son and daughter-in-law John and Misty Brownlee, their 3 children and grandson, and John's daughter Paige Brownlee; son Bill Gray and his daughter and son-in-law Cori and Kyle Burchart and their sons; grandson Jason Gray, niece Gloria Gray (Mark) Tomer, nephew Bruce (Jacque) Gray, nephews Jim and Jake Mathews, cousin Virginia Romick, and her BFF of 80 years, JoAnn Swan.
A Celebration of Life was held in the Rose Chapel at Boston Avenue on Thursday, March 8th at 3:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor at Boston Avenue Methodist Church.
Joy graduated from Will Rogers High School and was an active member of Pi Beta Phi sorority at Oklahoma State University. In 1945 she married her high school sweetheart, Wayne Gray, a homebuilder that started Gray Construction Company after returning from WWII. Wayne passed away at age 36 from kidney disease contracted during his service. His bride never remarried, opting to raise their 3 children on her own. For many years she volunteered at Children's Day Nursery and the Tulsa Psychiatric Center, and worked as an executive secretary until her retirement. Joy began playing bridge in college, and was in several bridge clubs simultaneously - remaining in one club for 61 years. She was a 79-year member of Boston Avenue United Methodist Church and their Wesley Fellowship class, and in recent months continued to watch the Sunday service on television.
Joy was preceded in death by her son Gary Gray (11/19/2017), husband Wayne Gray, parents Jack and Edna Mathews, step-mother Ruth Mathews, her brother Jack Mathews and his sons John and Jeff, and her in-laws Bill and Grace Gray. Survivors include daughter Sandra (Gray) Brownlee and her son and daughter-in-law John and Misty Brownlee, their 3 children and grandson, and John's daughter Paige Brownlee; son Bill Gray and his daughter and son-in-law Cori and Kyle Burchart and their sons; grandson Jason Gray, niece Gloria Gray (Mark) Tomer, nephew Bruce (Jacque) Gray, nephews Jim and Jake Mathews, cousin Virginia Romick, and her BFF of 80 years, JoAnn Swan.
A Celebration of Life was held in the Rose Chapel at Boston Avenue on Thursday, March 8th at 3:00 p.m., with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor at Boston Avenue Methodist Church.
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