Ruth Barker Gray

Ruth Barker Gray Ruth Barker Gray, a long time resident of Clay County and of Austin, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 30, 2003. Ruth Gray was born May 5, 1920 in the family home of her grandmother Mrs. W.H. (Viola) Myers in Henrietta, Texas to Thelma Louise Hartley and Carl Eugene Barker. She graduated Valedictorian from Henrietta High School and attended the University of Texas at Austin, from which she graduated with highest honors and was a junior Phi Beta Kappa. She majored in both Chemistry and Mathematics, and was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Sigma for her academic achievements in Chemistry. Mrs. Gray received her Master's degree in English from UT Austin. She studied at the Middlebury Language School in Vermont and City College in Los Angeles, and was one of the first five women ever accepted into the doctoral program in English at Yale University. After returning to Clay County, Mrs. Gray met and married Tom J. Gray, and for thirty three years they had a full and rich life together working many years in their business interests. Mrs. Gray taught chemistry at Midwestern University, was the author of the operations manual for Four Seasons Nursing Centers of America, Inc., and held Texas nursing home administrator license number four until she retired from the industry. Mrs. Gray lived in Wichita Falls where she and her husband were active members of the First Baptist Church for many years. Mrs. Gray was predeceased by her daughter Tila Gray in 1975. “I lost Tila in a car accident on August 31, 1975, and my love for her has only magnified with time. She gave me more meaning to life than anyone else. You see, part of me is already with the Lord.” Following the 1979 tornado in Wichita Falls, Ruth Gray moved to Austin with her husband, who preceded her in death in 1981. Mrs. Gray was a member of and taught Sunday school at Hyde Park Baptist Church. She had a very active life in Austin and was a well known bridge player, a member of the Quill Club, the Austin Woman's Club, the Reader’s Guild, and Andrew Carruthers NSDAR. Mrs. Gray received numerous awards for her writing and was a published author of short stories. Most of her stories involved topics relating to her memories of her early life in Clay County. She later renewed her University ties to the Wesley Foundation and was an active member of the University United Methodist Church, where she also taught Sunday school. Many lives were touched by her devotion to church and to teaching. Mrs. Gray is survived by one son, Clark Gray of Wichita Falls, one adopted son, David Gray (son of Tila Gray) of Austin, four grandchildren: Myers Gray, Beth Gray, Thomas Gray and Caroline Gray, and one great grandchild Willem Dawson Gray. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, November 2nd and the family will receive visitors from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. A church service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on November 3rd at the University United Methodist Church, followed by a graveside service at 2:30 p.m. on November 4th at the family plot in Henrietta, Texas. Mrs. Gray was a kind, caring, and intelligent person whose wit and graciousness will be missed by all who knew her, and will carry on in their hearts and minds. Arrangements by Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin, Texas 78705 (512)452-8811. You may view memorials online at www.wcfish.com