Vitals: Obits: Gray: Fayette Co, PA
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JAMES W. GRAY
UNIONTOWN, Dec. 28 -- James Whaley Gray, 77, a retired engineer of the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad Company on the Connellsville Division with 50 years of service, died
at 6:28 o'clock Wednesday evening at his home, 32 Walnut street. He had been ailing
for several months of complications.
Mr Gray, who retired on December 12, 1928, was born January 4, 1862, a son of the
late Captain John Foster Gray and Jane Vance Gray. At that time the Gray homestead
occupied the present site of the Poletz restaurant here. His father, Captain Gray,
brought the first Baltimore & Ohio passenger train into Uniontown from
Connellsville, the passengers including the capitalists of the day who presented the
engineer with a silver lantern to commemorate the occasion.
Deceased became an apprentice on the Baltimore & Ohio in January, 1879, and soon
was promoted to freight fireman and then to freight engineer, in which capacity he
continued to round out his 50-year span. He was the last member of the family.
July 28, 1883, he was married to Kate M Gue, daughter of John W Gue, at the family
home at Mount Braddock with Rev A S Milholland as officiating minister. To this
union three children were born. a daughter, Maria Black, died in childhood. Mrs.
Gray passed away February 17, 1937, after the couple had celebrated their golden
wedding anniversary in 1923.
Surviving are a son, John Foster Gray; a daughter, Mrs Sarah Valetta, wife of
Charles J Ramer of Uniontown; and four nephews and nieces, John H Hambry of Everson,
Ralph Gray of Connellsville, Dr S B Gray of Scottdale and Mrs C B Foelsch of Sunbury.
Mr Gray was a member of the B of L E B & O Veterans' Association, Knights of
Pythias, I O O F, and Workman of America. He was also a member of the First
Presbyterian Church.
The funeral service will be held at 2:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the home.
Interment will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.
(DOD 27 Dec 1939)
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Katie M Gue GRAY
MRS J W GRAY DIES AT HOME
Surrounded by a number of her most intimate friends whom she had invited to share
the hospitality characteristic of her home, Mrs James W Gray died suddenly Thursday
afternoon, February 17, 1937 at 1:15 in her home, 32 Walnut street.
Though suffering with a heart condition for a number of years, Mrs Gray had seemed
to be in her usual state of health and was entertaining a number of guests at an
informal luncheon yesterday noon when stricken with a sudden attack. Retiring to
her bedroom just as luncheon was to be served, death came within a very short time,
and she passed quietly to her reward, with members of her family and close friends
at her side.
Mrs Gray was one of the city's best known women, beloved by a host of friends.
Insofar as her failing health of recent years permitted, she continued up until the
last to devote her time in the church and (continued on Page Ten)
MRS J W GRAY DIES AT HOME
(Continued from page one)
philanthropic organizations which had occupied so great a place in her life.
Born May 8, 1861, Mrs Gray was the former Katie M Gue, daughter of Sarah Ellen
Black and John W Gue
of McClellandtown being a lifelong resident of Fayette county, and a member of one
of its most prominent families. With the death of her mother, she went at the age
of two years to her grandmother, Mrs Maria Black on the Coburn farm, McClellandtown
road, with whom she continued to make her home until her marriage.
On July 28, 1933, she became the bride of James W Gray, and with him four years ago
celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in the presence of a large number of
friends.
During her lifetime in Uniontown she has been prominently identified with the
Women's Hospital Association, of which she is a life member; the Elizabeth Sturgeon
Women's Christian Temperance Union, the Women's Missionary Society and Quilting
group of the First Presbyterian church, to which she has given generously of her
time and talent.
Her unselfish consecration to the various activities of the church and community
where she spent so many useful years make her death a very deep and real loss to all
with whom she had been associated.
Surviving in addition to her husband, James W Gray, are one daughter, Mrs Charles
Ramer, and one son, John Gray, both of Uniontown; one half-sister, Mrs Anna
McWilliams, McClellandtown; two nieces, Mrs Jack Gallatin, Masontown, and Mrs George
Ache Jr, McClellandtown. One daughter, Maria Black Gray, preceded her in death at
the age of five years.
Funeral services will be held in the family residence, 32 Walnut street, Sunday
afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, with the Rev Dr William Blake Hindman officiating.
Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery.
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