Ann Bray stepped into the loving arms of her Heavenly Father and reunited with her husband, Gene, on June 22, 2022 at the age of 98 after living a full and happy life. Ann was born on December 5, 1923, in a farm house in Shiloh Community Arkansas to Estelle and James Arnold. She was the youngest of 4 children and definitely the spunkiest. She met her future husband, Gene, at Arkadelphia High School, and they married two years later on June 11, 1943. Ann and Gene celebrated 67 years of marriage before Gene’s death.
After Gene’s service in WWII, they settled in Taft, Texas where Gene worked for Reynolds Metals Company. Ann completed college, while raising 3 daughters, and began her career of 27 years teaching Math at East Elementary School. Ann was an active member of First Baptist Church in Taft and sang in the church choir for many years.
After retirement, Gene and Ann moved to Silver Creek Community on Lake Buchanan in Burnet, TX. They quickly found their place in their new community becoming active in their new church, Silver Creek Baptist Church, and making many new friends. Ann enjoyed lake life and when her children and grandchildren visited, she and Gene treated them to memorable family time with meals, fishing, boating, and skiing! The grandchildren always found Memaw’s cookie jar full of her famous crunchy cookies. Ann enjoyed helping her husband in the garden. When the tomato crop was finished, they packed up their motorhome and headed to the mountains to enjoy cooler weather. Traveling in their RV allowed them to visit most of the United States.
In 2001, Gene and Ann said goodbye to lake life and moved back to the coast, buying a home in Portland, TX. Gene and Ann were active members in Oak Ridge Baptist Church. Ann enjoyed hosting family get togethers and introducing a new generation to her crunchy cookies.
After Gene’s death in 2011, Ann moved to Carriage Inn Apartments in Katy, TX. Ann was a great Southern cook all her life, but upon moving to Carriage Inn she hung up her apron and never turned on the oven again. She was a frequent participant in socials, Bible study, exercise class, and any and all the games. She loved bridge and hated losing pennies at Bingo.
When the time came for her to slow down, she chose to move to Brookdale Senior Living Community in Odessa, TX in 2021, where she loved all the friendly staff, met new friends, and traded the extra activities for the Hallmark Movie Channel and a bag of popcorn.
Ann was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and servant of the Lord all her life. Ann’s funny stories, quotes, and recipes will live on forever through her family and the children she taught. She will be missed, but we know we will see her again!
Ann was preceded in death by her parents, James and Estelle Arnold; her three siblings, Tom Arnold, Saxon Arnold, and JoElla Williams; her husband, Gene Bray; a grandson, Jimmy Herron; and great granddaughter, Kelsey Trees.
Ann leaves behind three daughters and their families whom she dearly loved; Andrea (Allen) Guy of West Columbia, Texas; Nancy (Gary) Davis of Katy, Texas; and Liz Phillips of Odessa, Texas; 9 grandchildren- Stacey Herron, Jeff (Lilia) Guy, Judy (Greg) Caffey, Amy (Brian) Martin, Diane (Mike) Mannina, Michelle (Dan) Thompson, Carrie (David) Trees, Bill (Kelly) Phillips, and Beth (Karl) Debney; and 22 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the charity of your choice.
A graveside service will be held at Palms Memorial Gardens in Portland, TX on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 1 PM.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.17