GRAY, Wayland R. 1885-1969

GRAY, GADE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/15/2019 at 13:59:26

Wayland R. Gray Dies Thursday At His Home In Dike

Wayland R. Gray, 88, passed away early last Thursday morning, April 3, at his home here in Dike. Though he had been under a doctor's care for sometime and had been advised to shorten his workday he continued to serve customers and "fill" prescriptions by going to the Drug Store for a few hours each day until his death.

Funeral services were held this past Monday afternoon at the Dike United Methodist Church. Pastor Robert W. Hoover Jr. officiated. Burial was in the Elmwood cemetery, Dike. The Dike Funeral Chapel was in charge of the arrangements. Masonic memorial services were held at the Dike Funeral Chapel on Sunday evening at 8 p.m.

Wayland R. Gray was born Oct. 6, 1885 in Postville, Iowa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gray. He was a graduate of the former Cedar Falls Teacher's College high school. He graduated from the Pharmacy College, University of Iowa, Iowa City in 1907 and had since been an Iowa Registered Pharmacist.

During his early manhood he worked in Ames, LaPorte City, Charles City, Waterloo and Cedar Falls--being a partner in the first drug store on College Hill in Cedar Falls in 1911.

Wayland came to Dike on St. Patrick' Day in 1916 to work in the Harlan C. Wood Drug Store. Two years later he went to work for the Dike Drug Store in the present location of the Gray & Wood Drug. Wayland and the late L. A. Wood formed a partnership and bought out the late Dr. J. C. Corsaut business in 1919.

He was married to Bertha Gade on Jan. 22, 1926 in Waterloo.

Mr. Gray took over the entire drug business at the death of Mr. Wood in 1940. He had continued the business since then with the assistance of his wife and Roger Stage who had worked there till this past year since World War II.

March 17, 1966 Wayland was honored by the general public, school students and many of his customers at an impromptu 50th anniversary ceremony. James Erpelding served as master of ceremonies and spokesman for the event which was a surprise; but which Mr. Gray truly appreciated. Mr. Erpelding expressed the public's general feeling of appreciation of Gray's being such a loyal and ever-ready pharmacist--day or night--to serve the people and their needs. On behalf of the many friends Wayland was presented with an office chair and plaque in recognition of his 50 years of continuous and faithful services to the community of Dike.

He was a member of the Iowa Pharmaceutical Association; the Dike Chamber of Commerce; a long-time member of the Elk's Lodge, Waterloo; Shrine and and the Masonic Honor Lodge No. 646 of Dike. Last Sept. 15, Mr. Gray, E. P. Tobias and C. L. Moles were honored as being 50 year Masonic members. Mr. Gray received the Governor's Award from Iowa Governor Herschel C. Loveless in 1967 for 50 years of pharmaceutical service.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister and two brothers who died in infancy.

Survivors include his widow, Bertha; one daughter, Mrs. F. D. Herald of Lake Oswego, Oregon; and a host of friends.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 10 April 1969, pg 6