Dorothy P. Gray

1926 - 2021

Dorothy P. Gray
, age 95, passed away peacefully in her home in Corona del Mar, CA, on Saturday morning, July 24, 2021. As she often said, her life was a lucky one, full of the things she loved most: world-wide travel, music and theatre events, golf, bridge, swing dancing, financial investing, loving companions, good friends, and a home with a spectacular view of the Pacific Coast. She was known for her outgoing personality, sharp mind, strong opinions, and smart fashion sense.Born on March 12, 1926, Dorothy lived in El Segundo, CA with her parents and younger sister Nancy until she was 13. When her father, who worked for Standard Oil, was transferred, the family moved to Berkeley, CA, where Dorothy attended Berkeley High School. She excelled in sports (especially baseball and volleyball) and academics, her competitive spirit fueling her desire to do exceptionally well in both.During her first year of college at the College of the Pacific (now known as University of the Pacific), she majored in drama and psychology before transferring to UC Berkeley, where she continued her studies in psychology as well as sociology (though her favorite class was one on the works of Shakespeare). It was at UC Berkeley that she met James L Gray, whom she married in May of 1949. They made their first home in Corona del Mar before building a house on Lido Island in Newport Beach where they lived, raised their 3 children, and enjoyed an active life of golf, tennis, and bridge as members of the Santa Ana Country Club and Irvine Coast Country Club. Dorothy brought her innate competitive spirit to these sports as well, and developed close friendships with her golf, tennis, and bridge buddies.As a wife and mother, she had a knack for creating elaborate celebrations, dinner parties, magical Christmases, enchanted Easters and unforgettable birthday celebrations. She volunteered for the Assistance League of Newport Beach, contributed to American Cancer Society and the Arthritis Foundation.After she and James divorced in 1968 she indulged in new activities and adventures, like travel, swing dancing, spa vacations with her girlfriends, financial investing, and nights on the town with men who were smitten by her sharp wit, intelligence and gregarious, fun-loving personality. When she was 63 years old, she fell in love with her last and greatest love, Donald Turner. While they were never officially married, they lived and traveled together for 25 years until Don died in 2011. After Don's death and her diagnosis of congestive heart failure, Dorothy's life slowed down considerably, though she still played bridge with "the girls" at Big Canyon Country Club. Almost every evening, she indulged in one of her greatest pleasures: sitting in her living room with her cat Ben in her lap, taking in the breathtaking view as the sun sank slowly into the Pacific.Dorothy is survived by her three children, Dhyana Winant, Nancy Tierney and Robert W. Gray, and her grandson, Daniel Winant. She is also survived by her niece, Linda Weill; daughter-in-law Jutta Gray; son-in-law Paul Winant, and son-in-law John Tierney; step-grandsons Frank, Thomas and James Farias, and four step-grandchildren: Loren, Gavin, Ella, and Robbie.Donations in Dorothy's memory may be made to S.O.S (Share Our Selves) at https://www.shareourselves.org/donate/.