Joy M. Gray's Obituary
Joy M. Gray, 92 years of Columbia, IL, passed away on May 29, 2023 at Missouri Baptist Hospital, Town and Country, MO. She was born April 5, 1931, in Kewanee, MO.
She was married to the late Gene Gray. They were married on September 15, 1951 in St. Louis, MO. He passed away on November 10, 2005.
Joy was a member of First Baptist Church, Columbia, IL, where she was a member of the quilters group. She had been employed at the former Parks College of St. Louis University in Cahokia, IL. She enjoyed her final years at Cedarhurst in Waterloo, IL.
Surviving are her children, Karen J. (James D., Jr.) Mercer of Columbia, IL, Jeffrey W. (Donna) Gray of Waterloo, IL, and Sharon C. (Brian) Thompson of Columbia, IL, grandchildren, Sarah (Josh), Jonathan (Elaine), Brandon (Robin), Jennifer (Nathan), Andrew, and Rebecca (Tim), great grandchildren, Olivia, Sophia, Hope, Isaac, Tucker, Carson, Landry, and Lyla; along with other relatives and friends.
She was also preceded in death by her parents, James and Eulah, nee Seals, Calhoun; brother, James A. (Betty) Calhoun II; sister, Mildred (Norman) Weiss; half-sisters, Gladys Dixon, and Virginia Beardsley.
Visitation will be Thursday, June 1, 2023 9:00 am - 11:00 am at First Baptist Church, Coumbia, IL. Funeral services will be held following visitation at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church, with Pastor Jonathan Peters officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Saint Louis, MO.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be directed to First Baptist Church - Youth Fund, 1200 Valmeyer Road, Columbia, IL 62236.
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