Verna Jean Gray

Our loving wife, mother, grandmother, and dear friend, Verna Jean Gray, passed away on Sunday afternoon, March 4th. Verna was a significant part of all our lives and she will be greatly missed. Verna was born January 9th, 1935, in Colville, Washington. She moved to Wenatchee in 1945 and graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1953. She married her best friend and life partner, Bruce Gray, in 1954. Bruce resides in East Wenatchee and retired from the Chelan County P.U.D. in 1990 after 32 years of service. They celebrated 58 wonderful years of marriage together on December 31, 2011. Together they raised two children, Dale Gray and Judy Gray-Higgins. Dale graduated from Eastmont High School in 1974 and currently resides in East Wenatchee where he is employed at the T-Mobile Data Center. Judy Gray-Higgins graduated from Eastmont High School in 1979 and currently resides in San Clemente, California, where she is a partner at Deloitte Consulting. Verna was a very loving and giving grandmother to Chelsea and Casey Higgins. To her granddaughters she was known as "Grammy" and they loved her dearly. Verna made countless visits to Southern California to spend time with her granddaughters. They meant the world to her. Verna (and Bruce) lived in the same home for 51 years. Verna kept a beautiful home; friends and family were always welcome. You could often find her every morning sharing a pot of coffee with a family member or two. She was known by her family for making the best potato salad on the planet. She worked at various locations - Columbia Fruit and Pactiv. Verna worked for the Eastmont School district as a bus driver. She was well known for driving bus # 16 from 1968 until she retired in 1982. Verna is survived by her husband, son, daughter, son-in-law (Maxwell), and granddaughters. She is also survived by her sisters, Dixie Murdock of East Wenatchee and Betty Wilson of Medford, Oregon; brother, Ken Alexander (Leanne) of East Wenatchee; and her loving dog, Barney. Memorial Services will be held on Friday, March 9th, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at the Eastmont Baptist Church, 400 S. Kentucky, East Wenatchee, WA, with Pastor Steve Brewer officiating. A family and friend gathering will be held at Bruce and Verna's home, 2200 S.E. 8th street, E. Wenatchee, following the Service. There will be a viewing at Telford's Chapel of the Valley, 711 Grant Road, East Wenatchee, on Thursday, March 8th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Verna Jean Gray

January 9, 1935 - March 4, 2012