Opal Gray

Opal spent much of her adult life caring for her special needs son, David. Pursuing her passion for ensuring those with special needs received quality care and development, she was a long-standing board member of the Orange County Area Rehabilitation Center, remaining active on the board even after the death of her son. Additionally, she was an active advocate of the Cypress Group Home in Orange, TX, often using personal assets to ensure the home had the

resources they required for their residents.

In addition to her community activities, Opal owned and operated Opal’s Jewelry store in Vidor for many years. In this capacity, she loved interacting with her clients, providing individualized customer care that they wouldn’t receive in the larger stores. She also loved to travel, and made numerous trips around the United States and abroad.

Opal was extremely close with her sisters, Mavis Boone (deceased), Helen Stanton, and Aileen Mooney, talking with and visiting them daily. In addition to being sisters, they supported each other through deaths, ill- health, and other family emergencies.

Opal was a longtime member of The United Methodist Church and was considered one of the Matriarchs of her church family. She loved going to church to worship and visit with her friends.

She was a very active member of T.O.P.’S. Missing a meeting just wasn’t done. She lost her weight and doing so won numerous awards, including the rank of Queen and represented her club in numerous location for state events.

Opal is preceded in death by her parents, Edgar and Verta (Wallis) Chapman, her husband, Claudie Pearl King, her husband Cecil “Pete” Gray, her daughter, Mary Ann King, and her son David Barnett Gray. She is also preceded in death by her stepdaughter, Sharron Anne Corcoran.

She is survived by her son Barry Lane Gray (Lindy), Sandra Kay De Lane (Jim), and Linda Alisa MastelMerritt (Mike). She is also survived by her stepdaughter, Carolynn Gray Baker, and her stepson, Robert Darrell Gray (Susie). Opal had five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. She also had six step grandchildren and eight step great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held on Monday, May 16th, 2016, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday, May 17th, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., at United Methodist Church, (501 N. Main), in Vidor, with a church service following at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Restlawn Cemetery in Vidor, following services.