Mary E. Gray

Mary Elinore Gray, 102, peacefully passed away Thursday, August 1, 2024 at Brewer Center for Health and Rehabilitation. Friends and family were with her that day. Mary was born April 4, 1922 in St. Francis, Maine to Charles and Minnie Jones. She moved to Orrington in 1935 to attend Bangor High School. She continued her education at Beal College, where she graduated in 1940. After school she worked in the insurance industry. While living in Orrington, Mary met and eventually married Arlington Grandon Gray in April 1946. Mary's faith to God and devotion to Essex Street Baptist Church in Bangor are long standing. She was baptized there on New Years Eve in 1937. She served on many boards and offices for the American Baptist Churches of Maine and American Baptist Women. At Essex Street she taught Sunday School for over 35 years to high school age students and adults. She was President of United Society, was a participant of the Sunshine Class and Missionaries, Church Clerk and a Deacon for a time. She and Grandon toured the mission fields in Southeast Asia for 5 weeks in 1975, went to ABCUSA Biennial in Puerto Rico in 1981 and spent 3 weeks in Japan with missionary Margaret Bristol in 1992. Her most recent years were spent in Bangor at Phillip-Strickland House, assisted living. That was the only place she would agree to live when it became apparent she needed some extra help with the daily chores of living. She loved everyone there, staff and residents alike. Mary is survived by two sons, John and wife Roberta of Holden and James and wife Debra of Orrington. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by Grandon in 1990; her brother Harold Jones; and sister Bonnie Brooker. We, her family, would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all the staff at Phillip-Strickland House, St Joseph Hospice Care and Brewer Center for Health and Rehabilitation for their kindness and caring so freely given. Friends and family may call from 1PM to 2:30PM, August 8th, 2024 at the Brewer Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 55 South Main Street, Brewer, with a service immediately following. Interment will be private at Woodlawn Cemetery. Those who wish to remember Mary in a special way may make donations to your favorite charity. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.