The Vandalia Leader

Follow Us On:

Margaret Gray

Posted on Thursday, June 27, 2024 at 8:35 pm

Margaret “Marge” Gray, 93, of Clarksville, Mo., died Thursday, June 13th, 2024, at Lynn’s Heritage House in Louisiana, Mo.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Louisiana, Mo.

Marge was born Nov. 22, 1930, in St. Louis, Mo., to Otto and Theresa Veth. She attended Harris Teachers College and earned her bachelor’s of science degree in education from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She enjoyed a love of traveling early in life, going on a nine-month trip visiting and working in several countries in Europe with a friend. Marge and Kathy completed their journey back to the U.S. aboard the Queen Mary.

Marge married John Gray in January of 1956. She had a variety of jobs throughout her life including bank teller, substitute teacher, postal carrier, farmer and mother. She was a parishioner of Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Clarksville for more than 50 years. She was also a member of the Pike-Lincoln Quilters, Chautauqua, St. Ann’s Sodality, the Master Gardeners and she attended many retreats at the Kings House Retreat Center.

She is survived by two sons, Joseph (Jo Ann) Gray of Clarksville and Michael (Sandy) Gray of St. Charles, Mo.; two daughters-in-law, Ellen Gray of Kirksville, Mo., and Penny Gray of Hornell, N.Y.; six grandchildren, Marella Gray, Taylor (Matt) Leigh, Andrew (Meg) Gray, David Gray, Laura Gray and Nicholas Gray; two great grandchildren, Vivian Gray and James Leigh; two brothers, Thomas (Carolyn) Veth and John (Jackie) Veth; two sisters, Delores Veth and Cathy Hansen and many, many nieces and nephews.

Her parents, Otto and Theresa Veth, her husband, and children, Teresa Gray, Stephen Gray, Mark Gray, and David Gray, all died earlier.

Marge and her husband, John, donated blood regularly to the American Red Cross at blood drives throughout Pike County and she donated her body to the St. Louis University School of Medicine.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating blood to the American Red Cross in honor of Marge if you are able. Mass cards or a donation to a charity of your choice are also appreciated. Collier Funeral Home in Louisiana, Mo., is in charge of cremation rites.