Nancy Gray Obituary, Death – On March 28, 2024, Nancy Patricia Gray passed away in the comfort of her home in Plymouth Township, surrounded by the people she loved. She had been passing away peacefully. She had reached the age of 85. Alloy, Fayette County, West Virginia was the location where Nancy Bess was born on December 2, 1938. Her parents were Rufus and Jeanetta Bess. Immediately following the passing of Rufus, Jeanetta tied the knot with Howard Lucas, and the Lucas family relocated to Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Where Nancy spent her childhood, she was surrounded by her cousins and other relatives. Upon the relocation of the family to Ashtabula, Ohio, Nancy discovered that she was no longer surrounded by the people and places that she had become accustomed to. She later moved back to Fayetteville to live with her aunt and uncle, Betty and Frank Henson, who became her loving surrogate parents. She was dissatisfied with the transfer, and she finally returned to Fayetteville.
This was a relationship that Nancy treasured till the day they passed away. In 1958, Nancy received her diploma from Fayetteville High School, and she has remained a committed alumni ever since. She maintained a strong sense of family and connection to her West Virginia roots throughout her entire life, and she remained in contact with the friends she had gained throughout her time in high school.
Nancy never failed to maintain communication with her aunts, uncles, and cousins, and she made numerous trips to Fayetteville, particularly for significant events such as the annual Bridge Day Celebration and the Myers family reunion. Nancy came face to face with Skip Gray, a native son of Fayetteville, when she was there. Following a voyage that would last for sixty-five years, the couple started dating and eventually tied the knot on June 30, 1958.
In the beginning, they took up residence in Fayetteville, but in 1960, they relocated to Ashtabula. Following the birth of their first child, Stewart “Skip Jr.,” in 1959, Nancy and Skip went on to have two more children: Kimberly Ann in 1962 and Mark in 1968. Nancy and Skip’s family continued to grow. Nancy went to work at Carlisle’s Warehouse in Ashtabula, and it was there that she made friendships that would last a lifetime. Over the years, she maintained a relationship with her coworkers and never appeared to be intimidated by the prospect of a challenging day’s work.
Skip was a loyal partner to Nancy, who supported him in his boxing career, the National Police Olympics, his employment as a police officer, and his position as a father. Nancy was involved in all of these activities. Her most important role was that of a tireless and loving caretaker throughout the time that her cherished Skip was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Over the course of many years, she made a selfless commitment in order to attend to his day-to-day requirements and be there for him in times of illness and health up to the time of his passing in January 2023.
Besides her unwavering commitment to Skip, Nancy was a devoted and young mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was also a fantastic grandma. She was an active participant in the interests and activities that her family participated in, including attending events such as gymnastics competitions and Little League Baseball games. She never failed to make time for all of her family’s activities, and by setting a good example for them, she fostered a sense of family and unity to her children and grandchildren.
Her three children, Skip Jr. (and his wife, Becci), Kimberly Ann (and her husband, Rick), and Mark (and his wife, Heidi), as well as her five grandchildren, Erin (and her husband, Joe), Bethany (and her husband, Matt), Karlee (and her husband, Jason), and Markie (and her husband, Tina), and her ten great-grandchildren, Bohden, Vehda, Raihden, Elliana, Makenna, Graylen, Lane, Wrenley, Tristan, and Zoey, are the ones who are left to cherish her memory and continue her example.
In addition, she is survived by her cherished siblings, Howard M. (Wanda), Thelma (Rick), Anita (Frank), Frances Kay (Jerry), and Roy (Jeanette), as well as her brother-in-law, Gregory Gray (Mick), who resides in Charleston, West Virginia. On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at one o’clock in the afternoon, funeral services will be place at the ZABACK-WILLIAMS-DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, which is located at 500 West Prospect Road in Ashtabula. At Greenlawn Memory Gardens, located in North Kingsville, the interment will take place.
