Obituary of Mary Gray Meeks

Mary Gray Meeks unexpectedly passed away Sunday, April 8, 2018 in Galveston, Texas at the beach she loved with her family.  Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, April 14, 2018, in The Chapel at Griffin~Hillcrest, Ardmore, Okla. Entombment of Cremains will take place in Hillcrest Mausoleum. Cremation under the direction of Hillcrest Crematory. 

Mary was one of those truly extraordinary people, a gift to all that knew her.  She was universally loved, respected and admired by all that she met.  She loved helping others and did so all the time and in many ways.   To quote a friend “one of the most perfect women I’ve ever met.”   

To her family, she was simply the best - best sister, best mother, best grandmother, best great grandmother, aunt, cousin one could ever want or imagine.  She had an amazing amount of grace, strength, humor, thoughtfulness and caring not seen often in a single person.  She lit up the room every time she walked in and left everyone in that same room a little better, having been with her.  She also made life-long friends wherever she went, keeping in touch in her very personal and caring way. She will be missed terribly but will live on in all that knew her and that she touched.  We were all incredibly blessed to have had her in our lives.

She was born Mary Ellen Devlin on January 30, 1933, in Lewiston, Maine to James Nichols Devlin and Doris Vera Cox.  She married Charles Milton Gray in 1955, having 3 children together, Jim, Doug and Richard.  Charles died in a plane crash in 1966 while they were living in Ardmore, Oklahoma.  She was later remarried to Geron Meeks and moved from Ardmore to Thomas, Oklahoma in 1974 where they lived until 1981.    Mary returned to live in Ardmore around 1984, working at American National Bank, making even more friends in the process.  Eventually, in 1994, she moved to Houston, Texas, where she resided until her death.  

She was incredibly talented, with many gifts, but was an especially gifted singer.  She had the opportunity to pursue a career in opera, but not surprisingly, chose family instead.  She still became the featured soloist in local churches wherever she lived and gave much joy to those blessed enough to hear her incredible voice.

She is survived by two sisters, Louise Jenkins of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Arlene Jensen of Orlando, Florida; and four children: Jim Gray of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Doug Gray of Houston, Texas, Richard Gray and his wife, Kim, of Davis Creek, California and Geron Meeks Jr. and his wife, Amy, of Houston, Texas, ten grandchildren: Wendy Gray of Ardmore, Oklahoma, Tiffany (Gray) Zaruba of Huffman, Texas, Charissa Funderburk of Cypress, Texas, Dustin “Bubba” Gray, of Huffman, Texas, Jake Thomas of Davis Creek, California, Jessica Thomas of Davis Creek, California and  Nick Gray of Davis Creek, California, Cassi (Meeks) Condren of Dallas, Texas, Alyssa (Meeks) Kelley, of Houston, Texas, Garrison Meeks of Houston, Texas, eight great-grandchildren:  Jaiden McCurley, Reagan McCurley, and Karlee McCurley all of Ardmore, Oklahoma; Kira Zaruba, Jeryn Zaruba and Kairi Zaruba of Huffman, Texas; and Beau Kelley and Ella Kelley of Houston, Texas.  

She also leaves numerous nephews, nieces and great nephews and nieces, all of whom adored her dearly.  She absolutely loved family and her legacy with family and friends will live on forever.  Rest in peace.  You will never be forgotten.