Esther Gray

Esther Leah Beer Gray died Monday June 9, 2014. She was born June 11, 1917 in Springfield Township to the late Simon and Katherine Miller Beer. She married Otis E. Gray of Ontario on November 22, 1939 and had resided in Shelby since 1948.

Esther and Otis owned and operated a Shelby-area potato and Brown Swiss dairy farm along with their son, Alan Gray, until a barn fire in 1988 brought an end to their business. She was a bookkeeper, gardener, homemaker, and a Christian and she knew that the heart of the home was the kitchen. Through her compassion and generosity she spent countless hours cooking meals for farm support, family, church friends, and anyone that happened to show up for a visit. Her favorite memory was a trip to Hawaii with her husband, Otis, and Jack and Lenore Reiner. She was a member of Richland Soil and Conservation District, Union Grange, Brown Swiss Dairy Association and the Farm Bureau. She was also a member of Cornerstone Grace Brethren Church.

Esther is survived by her children, Mary (Morris) Townsend of Shelby, Nancy Wyatt of Mansfield and Alan (Marlene) Gray of Shelby; grandchildren, Deeann Gray, John Wyatt, Ashley Fox, Anthony Gray and Alan C. Gray. She is also survived by great-grandchildren, Cordell and Carly Wyatt; and sister-in-law, Josephine Beer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis Gray; three brothers; two sisters; and a grandson, Douglas Townsend.

Friends may visit from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, 2014 at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Rd. The funeral service conducted by Pastor Les Vnasdale will be held in the funeral home Friday at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow in Mansfield Memorial Park. The family requests memorial contributions be made to Cornerstone Grace Brethren Church or MedCentral Home Care and Hospice.