GRAY, Della H.

GRAY, HERLIG, NIELSEN, MORTENSEN, JUHL, BLEASDELL, GARVIN, BETTEN

Posted By: Lynette Edsall (email)
Date: 7/23/2008 at 07:37:35

Cherokee Chronicle Times, Thursday, July 17, 2008

Della H. Gray, 93, of Marcus, passed away on July 7, 2008 at University Hospitals in Iowa City. Funeral services were held on July 12 at Faith Lutheran Church in Marcus, with Rev. Liz Pfeifle officiating. Burial followed at the Marcus Amherst Cemetery.

Della Herlig Gray was born on Nov. 28, 1914 in Plymouth County, Iowa, the daughter of Christian Jepson and Mary Nielsen (Mortensen) Juhl. She was baptized and confirmed in the Nazareth Church in Marcus (now Faith Lutheran Church). Della attended country school near her home and later graduated from Marcus High School in 1931. Della continued her education at Western Union (Later Westmar) College in Le Mars. She earned her degree in secondary education in 1933. With that degree, Della taught in a country school near Remsen for a few years.

On Jan. 26, 1938 Della and Donald E. Gray were united in marriage. The couple made their home in Marcus. Della was a homemaker, and also worked as a receptionist for Dr. Hobson and Dr. Schaechterle. Donald passed away on Aug. 27, 1975, and Della remained in Marcus until moving to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa in October of 1998.

Della was a member of the Nazareth Lutheran Church (now Faith Lutheran Church) in Marcus, and was active in Ladies' Aid, taught Sunday School and played piano and organ for many years. Della was a "people person" and enjoyed visiting with others.

Della was preceded in death by her parents;her husband Donald; a son, David G. Gray; a sister, Myrtle M. Bleasdell; and a brother Howard C. Juhl and his wife Jean; three brothers-in-law Eldon Bleasdell, Robert Garvin, and Warren Betten.

She will be lovingly remembered by her sons Donald H. Gray and his wife JoAnn of Esmond, Ill., Dennis E. Gray and his wife Kay of Annandale, Virg., and Darrell C. Gray of Mt. Pleasant; grandchildren Donald, Lori, David, John, Steven, Erin, Robert and Catherine; great-grandchildren Justin, Rachel, Lauren, Ethan, Gabriella, Isabella and Deacon; a daughter-in-law, Detra Gray of Crystal Lake, Ill. and two sisters, Irma I. Garvin of Marcus and Marian L. Betten of Orange City.

Memorials in Della's name may be directed to Faith Lutheran Church in Marcus or the American Cancer Society.