Inez Lee Gray

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Inez Lee Gray, 89, of Gonzales passed away Wednesday August 17, 2016.  Inez was born October 30, 1926 in Yorktown to Werner Albert Diebel and Frieda Kimmel Diebel.  She married James Donothan “J.D.” Gray on December 6, 1941 in Yorktown.  She was a member of the Gonzales First United Methodist Church and the Waelder Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 1023. 

Inez grew up in Yorktown, her family farmed and she was very familiar with working in the fields picking cotton and handling all the chores that needed to be done throughout each day.  She was well versed in caring for and riding horses and using them in the field.  She enjoyed dancing on Friday and Saturday nights in the colonies surrounding the Yorktown area.  Inez married J.D. Gray the day before the invasion of Pearl Harbor and it wasn’t long before J.D. enlisted in the U.S. Navy.  Inez had to fend for herself and she managed the best she could under the circumstances.  She stayed with relatives and raised their young daughter by herself.  When J.D. returned home from the war the family settled in Waelder where J.D. built a house for their growing family to reside.  She had worked as a bookkeeper for an auto dealership in Waelder for a number of years and even served as the Justice of the Peace in Waelder for a period of time.  Inez was a wonderful cook and Sunday dinners were always the family’s highlight of the week.  She enjoyed canning and making jams and jellies from the native fruit that her children would harvest and bring home to their mother.  She enjoyed attending dances with her husband, afternoon trail rides with her family and friends and working side by side with her husband and children.  Inez instilled a tremendous work ethic in her children; she taught them to be financially responsible and encouraged them to pursue a higher education.  Inez lived with arthritis most of her life, many days the pain was debilitating but she was a woman of character, a strong woman and she refused to let anything prevent her from accomplishing tasks that she had before her.  She spoke her mind freely when such was necessary, but aside from this, her smile drew people close to her and each smile was supported by twinkling eyes that invited folks in even closer.

Inez Gray is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine and David Reynolds of Runge, sons and daughters-in-law, Jay and Donna Gray of Gonzales, Roger and Charlene Gray of Gonzales, Steve and Bonnie Gray of La Grange, grandchildren, Londa Freeman, Travis Reynolds, Chance Freeman, Josh Gray, Taylor Gray and David Koopman, greatgrandchildren, Morgan Reynolds, Victoria Reynolds, Reagan Gray, Hays Gray, Laya Koopman, and Declan Koopman.  She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, daughter, Linda Freeman, grandson, Ross Gray, and her brothers, Dalton “Buddy” Diebel and Floyd Diebel.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 20, 2016 in the Gonzales First United Methodist Church with Rev. Paul Smith officiating.  Interment will follow in Waelder Cemetery.  Pallbearers: Travis Reynolds, Chance Freeman, Josh Gray, Jay Gray, Roger Gray and Steve Gray.  Honorary Pallbearers:  Londa Freeman and Taylor Gray and Damon Koopman. Memorials may be made to the Gonzales First United Methodist Church.  Services are under the care and direction of Seydler-Hill Funeral Home.               

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