Lucille Fay (Holmes) Gray (2010)

GRAY, HOLMES, SCHUMACHER, PICKEN, DRAKE, EMERSON

Posted By: Shirley Keating (email)
Date: 2/25/2010 at 20:19:13

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
February 24, 2010

LUCILLE FAY HOLMES GRAY, ROHNERT PARK, CALIFORNIA

Lucille Fay Holmes Gray, 87, died Jan. 1, 2010. A memorial service was held Jan. 6 at Oakview Circle, Rohnert Park, Calif., where she had resided. As a part of the memorial service, a eulogy was given by Barbara Schumacher, Lucille’s daughter, who lives nearby in Windsor, Calif.

Born Jan. 6, 1922, Lucille was the fifth of six children born to Fred and Agnus Elizabeth (Picken) Holmes. Lucille and her siblings grew up on their farm in Scott Township, Madison County, Iowa. She attended country school and graduated from Winterset High School in 1939. Following graduation, she worked as a clerk at the United Grocery, as an operator for the local telephone company, and in the county recorder’s office.

Her marriage to William Gray took place in March 1945. Soon after, they bought and settled on a farm near Oakland, Iowa, which was Bill’s hometown. In April 1947, they became the parents of a daughter, Barbara Louise Gray. Although they enjoyed Iowa farm life, following a visit to Anaheim, Calif., in 1951, they were captivated by the gorgeous weather and abundance and fragrance of the orange groves. They decided to return to Iowa, sell the farm, and move to Anaheim. Bill found employment as a groundskeeper in the maintenance department of the Anaheim School District and Lucille worked as a bank teller. Later, Lucille also accepted employment in the district office of the Anaheim School District, where she worked as a school secretary for 20 years, retiring in 1978.

Lucille was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was always devoted to family and was outgoing. Social life centered around church and visiting with friends and neighbors. She had a genuine love and interest in people and the beauty of nature. Lucille and Bill spent their retirement years traveling to every state in the country as well as Europe, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Iceland. They enjoyed gardening and spending time with family and friends. Lucille enjoyed cross stitch, painting, and various other crafts. She also did volunteer work at the Anaheim Hospital.

After her husband’s death in 1991, Lucille continued living in Anaheim until June 1995 when she sold her home and moved to Rohnert Park, Calif., to be closer to her daughter and family.

Lucille is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Michael Schumacher of Windsor, Calif.; two grandsons, Brent and wife Sorn Schumacher of Guam, USA, and Blake and wife Tiina Schumacher of Helsinki, Finland. Also surviving are two sisters, Helen Holmes Drake of Winterset and Marjorie Emerson of Newton; two brothers, Herbert W. Holmes of Denison, Texas, and Michael Dean Holmes of Winterset; and several nieces and a nephew.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Fred and Agnus Elizabeth Holmes; her husband, William Gray; and a brother, Eugene F. Holmes.