Albert H. Gray Sr 1900-1995

GRAY HOLMAN MENARD

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/9/2012 at 22:48:51

Albert H. Gray Sr., 94, 200 D. Street, died Friday, Jan.13,1995, at his residence in Sergeant Bluff following a short illness.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. at the Sergeant Bluff Community United Methidist Church with the Rev Paul Samuelson and Chaplain. Steve Pohlman of St. Luke's Regional Medical Center officiating. There will be no visitation or viewing as the body has been cremated. A private family burial, will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery, Salix Iowa. Nelson-Berger Morningside Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

He was born March 11, 1900 in George, Iowa, the son of Rollin 0. and Mabel C. (Holman) Gray. He graduated from Sergeant Bluff High School and attended Iowa State University. He married Florence D. Menard Aug. 31, 1935 in Salix,Iowa. She died Jan. 1, 1989. He was a longtime resident of Sergeant Bluff and traveled extensively throughout his life. He served as Post Master for Sergeant Bluff for 28 years, retiring in 1970. As a young man he worked on the family farm at at the Sergeant Bluff grain elevators.

He was involved in numerous areas throughout his live, including, traveling to Washington D.C., to lobby to channel the Missorri River. He was a Scoutmaster and secretary for the Sergeant Bluff Commercial Clubs in 1958, as well as a board member for the Council for the Aging (later known as the Woodbury Task Force on Aging). He helped form the Siouxland Senior Center and was Board president in the early 1970s. He was a Red Cross volunteer for more than 50 years and a bank officer at Pioneer Valley Savings Bank from 1932 to 1980. He was also active in organizing the Old Settlers Picnic, was a volunteer fireman for 38 years and was an honorary life time member.

He was also a member of the National Federal Employee's Association and the National Safely Council in the early 1960s. He served on the parade committee and worked with the Historical Society.

Mr. Gray received the Sergeant Bluff Community Award in 1985 for giving 67 years of service to the community.

Survivors include two sons, Albert H. Gray and his wife Jane of Indianapolis, Ind and Stephen F. Gray and his wife Jill of Irvine, Calif.; two daughters and their husbands, Maria and Otis Baker of Sergeant Bluff and Julie and Allan Bums of Gainesville, Fla.; a brother, Webster of South Bend, Ind; a sister, Emily M. Gray, M.D., of Wimberly, Texas; 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was also preceded in death by a brother, John, and a sister, Elizabeth Tilton.

A memorial has been established in his name with the Sergeant Bluff Volunteer Fire Department.