Charles "Dick" Gray Obituary (1939 - 2009)

Charles R. "Dick" Gray was born on June 17, 1939, in Breese, Illinois, a son of Charles R. and Mabel H. (Harris) Gray. He married Carrie E. Sidwell on February 21, 1959, and they were divorced. He married Jo Ann M. (Carrigan) Gebke on June 5, 1976, and she survives in Carlyle. Dick was a retired electrician and member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 309 in Collinsville, Illinois. He owned and operated Gray's Boat and Camper Storage in Carlyle since 1978. Mr. Gray was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose, Lodge 361, Salem; past member and Noble Grand of Sherwood Lodge 879, International Order of Odd Fellows; past member of KVS Sportsmen Club, ATA Amateur Trap Shooting Association and the Keyesport Fire Department. He served in the United States Air Force Reserves and attended St. Mary's Church in Carlyle. Dick was an avid race car fan and enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren. Charles R. "Dick" Gray entered into rest on Friday, August 14, 2009, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 70 years of age. Mr. Gray is also survived by a son - Anthony W. "Tony" Gray and wife Lisa of Patoka, Illinois; a daughter - Debra Long and husband Gery of Brownstown, Illinois; a daughter-in-law - Lori Gray of Brownstown; 2 step-sons - Lawrence J. "Larry" Gebke and wife Mary of Vandalia, Illinois and Duane Gebke and wife Tami of Dalton City, Illinois; a step-daughter - Cheryl Campbell and husband Douglas of Pierron, Illinois; 8 grandchildren - Trisha , Zachary, Zeke and Jonie Gray, Sara Boulyard, Amanda Bell, Jeremy Long and Monica Long; 9 step-grandchildren - Joseph, Holly, Connor, Kyle, Heather, Joshua and Hannah Gebke and Nicholas and Lauren Campbell; 7 great grandchildren - Courtney, Brook and Timmy Gray, Samantha, Colton and Blake Bell and Brya Long; 3 sisters - Octa Ann Haas of Grand Junction, Colorado, Mary Barth and husband Lee Roy of Keyesport and Sue Hammond of Altamont and 2 brothers - John Gray and wife Jeannette of Beaver Creek, Illinois and Ray Gray and wife Vickie of Keyesport. He was preceded in death by his parents; a son - Timothy Z. Gray and 2 grandchildren - Timothy W. Gray and Christian Gebke. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, August 18, 2009, at St. Mary's Church in Carlyle with Fr. George Mauck, officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held at Zieren Day Funeral Home in Carlyle on Monday from 4:00 - 9:00 P.M., and on Tuesday from 8:00 - 10:30 A.M. Memorial donations in memory of Mr. Gray may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association and will be accepted at the funeral home. Previous EventsVisitation Monday, August 17, 2009 Zieren Funeral Home 1111 Clinton Street Carlyle, IL 62231 Visitation Tuesday, August 18, 2009 Zieren Funeral Home 1111 Clinton Street Carlyle, IL 62231 Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, August 18, 2009 St. Mary's Church 1171 Jefferson Street Carlyle, IL 62231