Ruth Elizabeth Summy Gray passed away peacefully on February 13, 2019 surrounded by many members of her loving family. Ruth was born on August 19, 1941 in McAllen, Texas to Alford Vail Summy and Teressa Marie Faris Summy. Ruth grew up in the Rio Grande Valley and attended Hebbronville High School, graduating in 1959. Some of her fondest childhood memories were those working alongside her dad at their ranch. Ruth left the Rio Grande Valley to attend college at Southwest Texas State, Texas A&I, and eventually Texas A&M. While she was home for Christmas Holidays in 1960 she met her husband, Troy Wendell Gray, and they were wed on August 12, 1961 enjoying over 50 years of marriage before his death on September 17, 2012.
Ruth became certified by the State of Texas as a driver’s education teacher in 1972. Her first job was teaching for Region IV along the Texas Gulf Coast. She then went on to teach for Region VI near College Station and finally Region XIII near Austin where she eventually retired, having spent over 30 years teaching thousands of students. Her contributions to driver’s safety education were recognized not only by her peers in the Texas Education Agency, but also by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas LP Gas Association.
Ruth and Wendell always lived by the motto “family first”, a motto that their children live by today. Even while they both held down jobs, they rarely missed children’s football, basketball or volleyball games from their junior high through college years. After retiring, Ruth and Wendell enjoyed many trips in their recreational vehicle, camping in more than half the states from Washington state to Florida. They also enjoyed frequent family trips to Disney World. But they could not leave until Hutto Volleyball season was over. They loved their girls’ volleyball teams.
Ruth is survived by her sister, Virgie Folger of Kerrville, Texas; daughter, Janiece and husband Doug Nelson of Hutto, Texas; daughter, Janet and husband Tim Ender of Hutto Texas; son, Mathew Gray and wife Misty of League City Texas; and son, Marc Gray of Georgetown Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Russell Ender and his wife Heather, Victoria Ender Jamison and her husband Chris, Taylor Gray, MiKayla Gray, Abbey Gray, Andrew Ender, Minzi Gray; and great-grandchildren, Lucian, Moses, Logan and Aubrie. Ruth is preceded in death by her parents, Alford Vail and Teressa Summy; loving husband, Troy Wendell Gray; brother, Alford Summy; and cherished brother-in-law, Richards Folger.
Visitation will be between 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm, Sunday February 17, 2019 at the Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Funeral Home in Pflugerville, Texas. Wendell’s cousin, Pastor Darrell Gene Lewis, will conduct graveside services with interment at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery at 2:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the American Kidney Fund, or charity of your choice.
