Fort Worth – Bertha M. Gray, 89 – a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and friend was lifted into the arms of our Savior from this life surrounded by many of her children, grand children & great grand children on March 3, 2017 at a local care center. Bertha was a resident of the Brookdale Ridgmar community, where she enjoyed spending time with special friends and neighbors. Bertha was born in Norfolk, Virginia on October 16, 1927. She was the daughter of Gladys Matcefsky Skinner & William Arthur Wood, a private in the United States Army during World War I. Bertha grew up in Norfolk and enjoyed her summers at the local ice cream and carhop, the hip roller skating rink and the bowling alley. She shared many fond memories of her friends and family from this time in her life. She was christened in a small Church of Christ, where she was saved from our world until she entered the next. Bertha met her one true love; a young naval recruit, Edward Lewis Gray in January of 1944 and they were married in June of that same year in Norfolk, Virginia. The young couple found out they were expecting their first child, so in November if 1944 she moved across country to Itasca, Texas to stay with her mother-in-law while Edward was shipped off to war. Bertha Gray gave birth to the first of her six children in Cleburne, Texas. Bertha didn’t have to wait long for Edward’s return from the war; they were soon reunited in Itasca, Texas. As their family continued to grow they moved to a more permanent residence in White Settlement, Texas. While raising her six children she also worked for Kmart to supplement the family income. Bertha retired from Kmart after 10 years. Bertha loved to travel and gather with friends, so she and Edward became active participants in the Chaparral RV Club and the Holiday Ramblers. They traveled across Texas and the southern portions of the United States in their trailer. They spent many fond evenings with friends, playing games, dancing, eating & watching the sunset beyond the horizon. Bertha and Edward enjoyed dancing so they attended many senior events across White Settlement, Lake Worth and Springtown. You would always find the two of them dancing with their many friends at these events, and it kept them young at heart. Sadly the dancing stopped for a short time when Bertha lost Edward, her husband of 49 years, in 1994. Bertha slowly got back to dancing since that is what Edward would have wanted and she would sit with her friends that she had known for many years. She danced with gentlemen friends of her social group until she was unable to continue going due to health reasons in 2014. What gave Bertha the most joy was spending time with her family. She loved watching her children, grand children and great grandchildren grow up. She always made each and everyone one of them feel special. She is loved deeply by her family and friends and was truly an inspiration. She will be missed dearly. Bertha Gray was proceeded in death by her husband Edward Lewis Gray of Fort Worth, Texas; her daughter Sharon Kay Gray of Fort Worth, Texas; and her grand-daughter Amy Gray of Fort Worth, Texas. She is survived by her son Edward Lewis Gray, Jr. of Orlando, Florida, and wife Arlene; her daughter Patricia Ann Gray Melton of Fort Worth, Texas; her son Garry Lynn Gray of Granbury, Texas, and wife Margie; her daughter Phyllis Ann Gray Strange of Garland, Texas, and her husband Michael; and her son James (Jim) William Gray of Azle, Texas, and his wife Gloria. Bertha Gray is also survived by 14 Grandchildren, 24 Great-Grand Children, and 2 Great-Great-Grandchildren.
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