Ruth Louise Gray

Ruth L. Gray, 96, of El Dorado passed away on November 18, 2020, in Wichita, Kansas.

Ruth was born on January 15, 1924, near Lone Elm (Anderson County), KS, to Henry and Cora (Stout) Reeve. She spent her first 17 years on the family farm and graduated from Lone Elm High School in 1941. After graduation, she moved to Kansas City, MO, and attended the Business College in downtown Kansas City. After completing her business training, Ruth worked for the Tamblyn Commission Company at the Kansas City Stock Yard for three years. It was during this time that she met Orville Gray who was in dental school. On June 17, 1945, Dr. Orville Gray and Ruth were married in the home of her parents in Iola, KS. Orville served two years in the U.S. Army, and Ruth was able to be with him during his time in the military; their first daughter, Brenda Sue, was born in Omaha, NE. After his discharge from the military in September, 1948, they moved to El Dorado where he opened his dental office, and their second daughter, Marsha Ann, was born. Although Ruth sometimes helped Orville in his practice, she was happy to be a homemaker for her family and a stay-at-home mom to the girls.

In 1948, the family joined the First United Methodist Church in El Dorado, and Ruth became active in the church circles. She served as treasurer for the circles for most of her membership years. She was a strong supporter of the El Dorado Community Concert Association and a member of the Board of Directors and Membership Secretary from 1982 to 1999. After retiring from the Board, the board members honored and surprised her (at a concert) by presenting her with a Life Membership to the Board of Directors. Ruth also volunteered as a Pink Lady for the Susan B. Allen Hospital in El Dorado for many years. Ruth and Orville loved to travel and had many happy memories of the places they visited.

Ruth was preceded in death by her husband in 1996; a brother, James Reeve, in 1944 at the Anzio Beachhead during World War II; her parents; and daughter Brenda and her husband John Richardson and brother, Russell Reeve and good and faithful friend George Banks. She is survived by her daughter, Marsha Ann (Don) Rice of Wichita; two granddaughters, Tirzah Rice (Bob) Hadley and Amy Rice (Daniel) Deisch; and three great-granddaughters, Rory and Samantha Hadley and Annika Deisch; and two great grandsons, Junius Orville Deisch and Ewan Hadley. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews Mary Ann Evans, James Russell Reeve, Rachel Marie Reeve, and Lawrence Henry Reeve, Glenda Poliner and Dr. Gregory Hartman.

In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established with the First United Methodist Church. Carlson Funeral Home is in charge of the services, and memorial contributions may be sent in care of them at Carlson Funeral Homes, 200 S. Star, El Dorado. Interment will be in the Bella Vista Mausoleum, El Dorado, KS. Ruth will lay in state at Carlson Funeral Home on Monday, November 23 from 9-5pm. Please sign her online guestbook at www.kirbymorrisfuneralhome.com

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