Betty E. (Wilson) Gray

Gray, Betty E. (Wilson) 89, Maple Road, Northern Cambria passed from death to life eternal on October 11, 2015. She was born on February 28, 1926 in Cherry Tree, Clearfield County, the daughter of Harvey and Eva (Mull) Wilson. Granddaughter of Rev. John L. Mull (Circuit Riding Preacher) and Mary E. (Everette) Mull and Stephen L. and Mary E. (McGee) Wilson.

 Preceded in death by parents, grandparents, husband James A. Gray, Sr. and two children by miscarriage; brothers; Kenneth, Frank, John and Clyde Wilson and sisters; Grace Wilson, Lola Cowan and Mary Leamer.

 Survived by daughter; Linda Gray, wife of Daniel Kellar, Northern Cambria, son; James Jr. and Kim Rickard, Northern Cambria, daughter; Lori Gray, Northern Cambria, grandchildren; Stephanie Johanson, Christy Gray, Grace Peace, Mary Rhoades, Sirena Gray, Laura Whitney, Jessica Rickard, Haley Ayers and Jeremy Carroll, eight great-grandchildren, sisters; Georgetta Wholaver of Cherry Tree and Madge Keith, Clymer, many nieces and nephews plus VBS and Sunday School students that span a lifetime of ministry. The list would not be complete without the addition of Jim Scott (passed from death to life on 1/18/15,)Tom Dishong , Jack Fleming and Mauro Florio, all sons of the faith, whom the Lord brought into her life during the last four years.

 She was a 1945 graduate of Cherry Tree High School and frequently attended the yearly Alumni Reunions as her health permitted.

 Betty was a former member of Zion Evangelical Church, Stifflertown, Goodridge Church of God, Northern Cambria, and Kinport Assembly of God, Uniontown . Musically, she sang regularly with her husband, Jim who was pianist for both the Indiana and Cambria County Hymn Sings, They both were vocalists in the Cherry Tree Community Choir which presented holiday cantatas directed by the William Degenkolb family. During the  1980's, while making frequent visits to daughters Linda and Lori at the PTL Television Network/Heritage USA Resort in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Betty eagerly volunteered as a phone counselor/intercessor during the Jim Baker program. She even managed to bake a few, extra pies which were hand delivered to the Green Room for some very special guests. In her later years, she devoted her life to personal ministry as in Intercessory Prayer Warrior. Only eternity will reveal the many lives she touched by her steadfast faith in Yeshua, Jesus our Messiah.

 Formerly employed as a cook at "The Beanery" (route 80 bus station) in Cherry Tree, clerk at the Cherry Tree Post Office, cook in the dietary department of Miner Hospital, Spangler and a cook at the Valley Dairy in Indiana.

 She was well known for her baking and cooking skills with a particular emphasis on the many varieties of pies that tempted us before they left her country kitchen. Her pies were  so popular that they were sold before they were offered to the public at the Goodridge Picnic each year. She was appropriately given the nickname "Betty Croker" by her sister-in-law. She was a diligent homemaker and farm owner having had the sole responsibility of managing the family farm while her husband  worked on the Great Lakes as a Merchant Marine for eight years during the 50's and early 60's . She helped deliver many calves and was known for taking aim at groundhogs when they crossed her path the wrong way.

 In their retirement years, the Grays traveled to numerous Stamps Baxter GI School of Music reunions in Texas, Mississippi and Tennessee. In addition, they attended Jim's Destroyer Escort (600-DE) Reunions of Navy Veterans of WWII.

 Member of the Disabled Veterans Women Auxillary, United Mine Workers of America and former member of the Goodridge Church Ladies Aid Society.

 "When all of God's Singers get home. Where never a sorrow or heartaches will come; there'll be no place like Heaven my home. When all of god's Singer's get home." Stamps Baxter Music Company 1937.

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim 4:7.

 Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Long-Contres Funeral Home, Inc., Northern Cambria, and from 10:00 a.m. until time of funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, with Pastor Russell Havener, Garman Church of God, officiating. Interment will be at McDowell Cemetery. 

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