"Our deepest sympathy to all of you at this time. Orville was a great guy, and will be missed. May your fond memories comfort you at this time."
In loving memory of
Orville Gray
May 14, 1927 - November 12, 2011
Orville Gray, 84, was called home on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at Crestview Senior Living in Webster City. He was born May 14, 1927 to C. Russell and Helen Ora Olsen Gray in Webster City. The family moved to the Stanhope area when he was two years old. Upon graduation from Stanhope High School in 1945 Orville farmed, worked at Brin's Furniture and at a Phillips 66 station. On July 15, 1949, he married Eleanor Lucy Bell at the Vincent Methodist Parsonage in Vincent. He continued farming and doing carpentry through the years before retiring in 1989. Orville and Eleanor moved into the town of Stanhope in 1998 and lived there until moving to Crestview Apartments in Webster City in October of 2008. His pastimes included fishing, camping with the Coachman Club and coffee with the guys. He especially enjoyed his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Orville was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Eleanor in December 25, 2009 and sister, Mary Wiezorek.
Left to cherish Orville's memory are son and daughter-in-law, Randy and Lois Gray of Bondurant; daughter and son-in-law, Debra and Layton Miles of Ankeny; sister, Audrey Valenta of Long Beach, CA; grandchildren, Darci Gutfreund; Jackson Bussanmas and Paul Gray; great-grandchildren, Sky, Mason and Dane Bussanmaas; Ava and Roya Ludwig.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Foster Chapel, with Rev. Suzie Moore officiating. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery at Webster City. Visitation will be at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday and prior to the service on Wednesday.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Stanhope Parish or Iowa Hospice.
Write a personal tribute or light a virtual candle for the Gray family at
www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com
Tributes
"We have fond memories of times spent with Orville and with Eleanor. We and others spent many years camping with them in our Central Iowa camping club. They were always a delight! What a great legacy they both leave for the family!!"
"Our sympathy to the Orville Gray family and to our special friend Deb. Our prayers and thoughts go out to you and your family."
"Orville and Eleanor were members of our camping club and we enjoyed many good times with them. I especailly remember the cribbage games that were played. Orville seemed to always have a pat hand and a little smile when he was on the winning side of the cribbage board. We will miss them both but find a little peace knowing they are together once again in heaven. Our sympathy to the family that they both loved and shared how proud they were of them all. Many outings grandson Paul joined them and you could tell they enjoyed having him with them for the weekend. "
"I remember Orville so dearly from years past. He was a very dear friend to my late grandfather Cecil Widick. I remember all the things he would help my grandpa with at my grandpa's farm and saw mill. And what a good friend he was to him. I'm so sorry for his family's loss. It's not easy to lose a loved one like him with a heart of gold. My prayer's are with all of you. Linda (Seiser) Solberg"