Peggy Gray Townsend

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Margaret Ruth ‘Peggy’ Gray (1923-2017) was born in Wichita Falls, Texas to Maggie Davidson (1897-1979) and Herbert Scott Gray (1894-1977) on Friday, January 26, 1923. She passed away peacefully on Friday, October 27, 2017 in the company of family, at St. David’s North Medical Center in Austin, Texas, after a brief illness.

She lived a full, wonderful, happy 94 years, 9 months and 1 day. Believing there was a rainbow waiting and a party going on somewhere, she was always dressed and ready to go with bows in her hair, adorned with sparkling jewelry and ring watches.

She and her sibling, older brother John Herbert Gray (1920-1999), were beloved children who also shared their early home lives with Maggie’s mother, Katie Davidson (born Longmire) (1870-1953). The death of Katie’s husband, Judge John Wesley Davidson (1869-1928), left her a young widow.

Peggy and her family were original members of Floral Heights Methodist Church (est. 1921) where her father had been nominated by the pastor to be a steward for and assume the organization of this new church in October, 1919. Peggy attended school in the Wichita Falls Independent School District - Alamo Elementary School (est. 1912), J. H. Zundelowitz Junior High (est. 1926) and graduated from WFHS (est. 1924) at the age of 16. She enrolled in the University of Texas-Austin in 1939 and lived her freshman year at Scottish Rite Dormitory (est. 1922, National Register of Historic Places, 1998). Until her death she was a proud Life Member of the UT Ex-Students Association. Peggy was a Bluebonnet Belle nominee and pledged Chi Omega women’s fraternity where she was a dedicated member and later an active alumna.

She was a beautiful young woman who had a loving group of friends and a cadre of beaus. The early 1940s were times of Big Band music, tuxedos, charmeuse gowns, parties and dancing. Peggy loved the pulse, energy and excitement of those wonderful days.

World War II interrupted these lives - young men enlisted in the Armed Services and Peggy helped at the USO.

Following a whirlwind courtship, Peggy married Wichita Falls native, pilot trainer and Army Air Corps 1st Lieutenant John Weldon Wilson (1920-1974) on December 25, 1943 at Floral Heights Methodist Church. She moved with him to air training bases in Abilene, Texas; DeRidder, Louisiana; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, before he was sent to Pisa, Italy to fight in the European battleground of the war. She went back to Wichita Falls to live with her parents until his return.

Now promoted to Captain, John was flying over Italy when his first daughter, Mary Margaret, was born April 22, 1945. In 1945, after the war, Peggy and John returned to Austin to finish college and plan their future. Their second daughter, Cherie Gray, was born there in January 5, 1949.

They returned to Wichita Falls in 1950, where their third daughter, Sandra Jeanne, was born December 7, 1952. Peggy and John became members of First United Methodist Church (est. 1928 at present location) where she was a Circle Leader.

Peggy was a tireless supporter of her daughters’ school programs and activities. Her membership in the Woman’s Forum was particularly pleasing to her as was giving her advice to the YWCA’s Y-Teen Committee and Adult Advisory Committee. She presided over the Carousel Club, Benjamin Franklin Elementary PTA, was an officer in the PTA of Zundy Junior High School, and was on the Board of both the Junior Dance Club and Junior Prom Club. She was a wonderful friend, room mother, avid bridge player, party planner, and ballroom dancer, happily seeing each daughter through her high school graduation in Wichita Falls.

Before 1972, both her parents and her brother’s family had moved to Austin. When Peggy and John divorced, she too moved to Austin, managing a newly constructed apartment complex in North Austin.

In Austin, she met F. Leonard Townsend (1916-1989), whose company Realastic Industries, had relocated to Texas from California. Peggy’s brother, John Herbert, who as Manager Economic Development for the Austin Chamber of Commerce met Len when John recruited Len’s corporation to Texas, introduced them and a new life adventure began.

Peggy Gray Wilson married Len Townsend on July 15, 1972 in Ponce, Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico and honeymooned while sailing the Caribbean, visiting numerous islands in the West Indies. They sought adventure, purchased a motor home and traveled extensively - gathering new friends from all over the country as they went. Establishing a ‘home base’ in Florida, they fanned out to ride the Alaska-Canadian Highway, loaded their motor home onto a rail car for a train ride through Mexico and undertook quests wherever their hearts desired.

They established a home together on a beautiful spot at the point where Lake Travis joins the Pedernales River. Len died unexpectedly September 18, 1989 in Austin, Travis County, Texas. Peggy sold their home in 2000 and moved to The Continental Retirement Community on South Lamar in Austin, Texas. She was the longest tenured resident, participated in many activities and was a friend to residents and staff alike.

Independent for the first time, driving her lipstick red Toyota Supra sports car, Peggy dove into new relationships, had a term as leader of The Continental Resident’s Council, provided Notary Service, held the bank for several in-house games, volunteered at the Austin Heart Hospital, traveled on the QE2 and Concorde to England with a companion, explored New Mexico and became a skilled Gin Rummy player with another companion and lived a busy and purposeful life.

She is survived by daughters Mary Wilson Roberts (William Henry ‘Bill’ Roberts III), Dallas, Texas; Cherie Wilson Mills, (David William Mills), Chicago, Illinois; and Jeanne Wilson Russell (William Frank ‘Bill’ Russell), Austin, Texas; and stepchildren, Mac Townsend, California; Meri Kaye Townsend, Delaware; and Wendy Rae Townsend, South America; and her first cousin, John Wesley Davidson (Eunise), San Antonio, Texas. She was predeceased by her stepson, Lew Townsend.

Also surviving are 4 grandsons and their spouses, William Henry Roberts IV (Katherine Goodrich Rogers), Dallas, Texas; David Wilson Roberts (Jane Elizabeth ‘Lisa’ Molsen), Dallas, Texas; Scott Wilson Russell (Jacqueline Chen), Kirkland, Washington; and Christopher Ryan Townsend (Christi Gail Nutter), Buda, Texas; and 8 great grandchildren, William Henry Roberts V and Alice Goodrich Roberts, Dallas, Texas; David Wilson Roberts, Jr., George William Roberts, and Mary Jayne Roberts, Dallas, Texas; Cyan Amara Russell and Sage Gabriel Russell, Kirkland, Washington; and Lauren Elisabeth Townsend, Buda, Texas.

She had loving relationships with nephews John Herbert Gray, Jr. (Sandra Kay Campbell), Austin, Texas; Jefferson Scott Gray (1949-2011) (Mary Elizabeth “Missy” McCrary), Austin, Texas, David R. Smith (Karen) Waxahachie, Texas; and nieces Virginia Gale Gray Stokes, Austin, Texas; Laura Lee Wilson Baskin (Leland Burleson Baskin, M.D., Ph.D.), Ft. Worth, Texas; and Tracey Linn Wilson Killion (Michael Curtis Killion), Montgomery, Texas.

Peggy was Great Aunt to Shelly Kay Gray, Austin, Texas; Page Erin Gray Race (Gray Andrew Race), Austin, Texas; Blakely Anne Gray Strickland (William Clayton Strickland), Golden, Colorado; Melissa Bryant ‘Lissa’ Gray Anderson, Austin, Texas; Jefferson Scott Gray, Jr. (Lynelle Kaye Keil), Austin, Texas; Mary Elizabeth ‘M.E.’ Gray Denver, Colorado; Stephen Stokes, Austin, Texas; Sarah Stokes, Austin, Texas; Megan Killion Shibley (Trevor Shibley), Montgomery, Texas; and Mallory Killion, Montgomery, Texas. She was also Great-Great Aunt to John Scott Mabry, Austin, Texas; Addison Gray ‘Addie’ Race, Austin, Texas; Campbell Clark Race, Austin, Texas; Levi Seymour Strickland, Golden, Colorado; Elizabeth Gray Anderson, Austin, Texas; Charles George Anderson II, Austin, Texas; Piper Lyons Gray, Austin, Texas; Micaela Brianne Shibley, Montgomery, Texas; and Trysten Tyler Shibley, Montgomery, Texas.

She will be missed and mourned by many - her loving friends, Louise Davis, Lakeway, Texas; Virginia Lawrence, Austin, Texas; Wendell Sharpton, Austin, Texas; Clara Hiller, Austin, Texas; Kris Townsend Haddock and Ronnie Haddock, Dale, Texas; Janet Abbott, Austin, Texas; Mary Beth Sherman, Austin, Texas; and the staff at The Continental. Her life was extended and made more comfortable by the patient and respectful treatment of her by Dr. Sheila Shung and Dr. Shung’s nurse, Lisa Barnett. All of these wonderful people touched, loved and cared for her on a very regular basis and kept her whole.

Her friends and family were paramount. Her daughters and their families, stepchildren and their families, her nephew, nieces and their families will forever miss her loving arms around them, the twinkle in her eyes, her sense of humor and her sweet Texas twang. She was always ready for an adventure – may this be the best one yet!

A celebration of her life will be held at The Continental Retirement Community, 4604 South Lamar, Austin, Texas, 78745 on Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. and will be led by Benjamin Michael Brummett, Elder / Pastor of Fellowship, Wayside Communities Church, Austin, Texas. Ben is a second cousin once removed to Mary Roberts, Cherie Mills and Jeanne Russell on their Wilson side.

Peggy and Len will be laid to rest, early next year, in the Davidson family plot (Section U, Block 187, Lot 1) in the Childress Cemetery, Childress, Childress County, Texas with her parents and grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to a favorite charity. Please visit www.cookwaldenfuneral.com to leave condolences for the family.