Cherry Kemble Gray

Cherry Kemble Gray, loving wife, devoted mother, and dedicated community servant, departed this world on Monday, the 28th of November 2011. She led a happy charmed life and passed away peacefully. Cherry was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to Susie and Will Ed Kemble on the 20th of December 1923. A graduate of Texas Christian University, she received a degree in business and minored in music. In 1946 she married Joe Gray and they made their home in Austin.

Cherry was constantly in motion and had a profound impact on the Austin community. Dear to Cherry’s heart was Meals on Wheels in Austin, where she was one of the original eight volunteers who cooked and delivered meals to the elderly. In 2004 Cherry received the Austin Community Keepsake Award for her outstanding contribution to Meals on Wheels. She also served on the Council for the Elderly and was very active in University United Methodist Church in many capacities. She and Joe were dedicated members of the church’s Couple’s Class for over 50 years.

Cherry enjoyed life to its fullest. She played tennis regularly and traveled all over the U.S. with Joe in their Airstream RV. She was an active PEO member and loved being a part of social groups like the sewing, bridge, and garden clubs.

Cherry will be remembered as a truly Christian woman who led her family by example. She had a long and happy marriage of 56 years to Joe Gray, who preceded her in death by 9 years. She is also predeceased by her beloved sister, Marion Gibbs.

“Meemaw,” as she was affectionately known, will be greatly missed by her survivors. They include daughter and son-in-law, Janey and Russ Trowbridge of Alexandria, VA; daughter and son-in-law Jo Ann and Craig Smith of Aransas Pass, TX; son and daughter-in-law Kelly and Ronda Gray of Austin. Grandchildren include Jason and Chelsea Gray, Adam Gray, Carolyn Trowbridge, Erich Dahlke, Ellary Dahlke, and Ali Gray—all of Austin. Out-of-town surviving grandchildren include Amy and John Madson of Minneapolis, MN, and Austin Smith of San Antonio. She is also survived by one great-grand child, Will Gray of Austin.

Words are inadequate to express our gratitude for the loving care she received at Plaza Querencia in Austin over the last 3 years.

Those wishing to celebrate the life of our beloved Cherry can make a contribution in her name to Alzheimer’s Association –Capital of Texas Chapter or Meals on Wheels of Austin.

Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening, Wednesday, the 30th of November at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd.

Funeral Services will be held at two o’clock in the afternoon, Thursday, the 1st of December in the Colonial Chapel of Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 N. Lamar Blvd. Entombment will follow at Cook-Walden Capital Parks.