Margaret "Polly" Gray

Polly was born on July 10, 1931 to James Victor and Margaret Lee Stuart, of Grand Rapids, MI, and was the youngest of three children. She graduated from East Grand Rapids High School in 1949 and from Endicott Junior College, in Boston, in 1951. She received her bachelor’s degree from Chicago’s National Teachers’ College in 1953.

In 1957, Polly married Richard T. “Dick” Gray (of Ponca City, Oklahoma) whom she met while teaching in San Diego, CA, where he was stationed with the Navy. They moved to Grand Rapids where they lived until Dick accepted a position with Coast Manufacturing Company, relocating them to Lancaster in 1964.

Polly taught reading and kindergarten in the Lancaster City School system for more than 20 years. In 1989, she received her master’s degree in education. She was an active member of St. John’s Episcopal Church for 50 years, serving as both a Christian education superintendent and teacher; she also participated in many evangelism outreach programs. She and Dick held leadership roles for the local National Day of Prayer initiative. She was active in area Bible studies and the local Parkinson’s disease support group.

She is survived by her children, Margaret “Peggy” Junker, Richard “Mac” Gray, Davis Gray (Josine), Sara “Sally” Farnick (Rob), and Nancy Gray; grandchildren, Christopher Junker, Nicholas Junker, Michael Junker, Margaret “Macy” Gray, Monique Gray, and Richard J. Gray; brother Charles M. Stuart (Judy) of Saginaw, MI; best friend of more than 80 years, Susan Craig Coons (David) of Rockford, MI.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 54 years, her parents, and sister, Sara S. “Sally” Hutchinson.

Funeral service will be held 1:00 p.m. Saturday, January 18th at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Lancaster with Reverend William Pursley officiating. Friends may visit from 2-4 and 6-8 pm on Friday, January 17th at the Halteman-Fett & Dyer Funeral Home. Private Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church, 134 N. Broad St., Lancaster, OH; FairHope Hospice, 282 Sells Rd., Lancaster, OH; or Foundation Dinners, 1000 W. 5th Ave., Lancaster.

On-line condolences may be made at www.haltemanfettdyer.com.