Joyce Gray

Joyce Gray, 88, formerly of Pampa, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 in Dallas. Services will be 10:00 AM, Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at First Baptist Church, with Rev. James Greer, Director of Missions at Top of Texas Baptist Association, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Mrs. Gray was born October 20, 1928 to Oscar and Mamie Maiden in Erick, Oklahoma. As a young woman, her family moved to Pampa and she graduated from Pampa High School in 1946. She married her high school sweetheart, James O. Gray, on August 11, 1946 in Pampa. In the early years of their 66-year marriage, she worked as a dental assistant locally and on the Army base when James was enlisted at Ft. Sill, Missouri during the Korean Conflict. Later she worked as a librarian at Lovett Memorial Library. She was an accomplished seamstress and do-it-yourselfer having made clothes, curtains, bedding, and helped James build and expand their Duncan Street home where they lived for 60 years. In the 1970’s she joined James working in the family business at Gray’s Decorating Center where she managed the books along with the retail paint and sundries sales. She and James coached their daughter’s softball teams at the Pampa Optimist Club and followed the girls’ sports and other activities throughout their school years in volleyball, track and choir. Over the years, Joyce and James enjoyed summers of carefree times with family and friends. Joyce loved playing games such as Dominos, Joker and various card and board games. She enjoyed the outdoors and family life together where the family went camping, boating, and fishing with the Red Dale Camper Club. Later they bought a motorhome and traveled across the US with extended family members. They both retired in 2002. Joyce was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church and an active member of the Everyman’s Sunday School Class. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Mamie Maiden; husband, James Gray; daughter, Dorinda Robinson; her sister Margaret VanHuss and brother Billy Maiden. Survivors include her daughters: Debbie Gray of Richardson and DeAnn Young and husband Jay of Columbus, Ohio; two grandsons: Brandon Gray Young and Keenan James Young of Columbus, OH; and numerous nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 PM Monday, June 26, 2017 at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P. O. Box 621, Pampa, Texas 79065.