Ada Christine Gray

Ada Christine Gray of Watson, Oklahoma departed this life September 6th, 2025 at the age of 88. She was born October 23, 1936 in Hilo, Hawaii to Eric Heath and Frances Josephine (Penn) Edwards. She was 5 years old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and Ada spent the next 4 years in a state of constant preparation for a repeat attack. Other than that, her growing up years were happy and carefree, living in a tropical paradise. After graduating from Hilo High School in 1954, Ada joined the US Army and became a WAC (Women's Army Corps).

While serving active duty in Europe, Ada met Donald Ray Freeman, and they were married in France, where they lived until being shipped back to the states to Ft Lewis Washington. Ada's oldest child, Stuart Eric Freeman was born there. The growing Freeman family were next transferred to Hawaii; back to her beginnings. It was there that she experienced her 2nd tsunami (they were called tidal waves back then) in May of 1960 while carrying her middle child, Donald Terence Freeman. Her first tsunami experience was in 1946 when the family home was nearly washed away. After Donald (Terry) was born, they were again transferred; back to Ft Lewis. In early 1963, Ada and her husband parted ways and she moved to Concord, CA with her 2 boys to live with her brother. A surviving remnant of the marriage came along later that year in the form of her third child, Sondra Jean Freeman.

During the early 1960's, life was hard for a divorced woman with 3 small children. Many people would buckle under that load, but Ada stepped up and with her signature perseverance, she met the challenge. Those early years molded her into the person that most folks reading this are familiar with.

In 1969, she met William (Son) Gray and they immediately hit it off. Upon his retirement from the Contra Costa County Fire Department in 1974, Son loaded up his newly acquired family and they moved to Watson, Oklahoma where he grew up. The kids grew up and moved away. "What should we do now?", they might have asked. So it was out to the hay fields for them.

Ada probably mowed and raked 100,000 acres of hay meadows over the years. After about a dozen years of that, it was time to slow down a little. Most people probably remember Ada going up & down the highway on her little red Honda picking up cans and trash. She never did it for the money. It was just a productive activity that she enjoyed. She was always picking up rocks out of the field, clearing fence lines and working with their cattle. There wasn't a lazy bone in her body.

She and Son helped found the Watson Community Volunteer Fire Department in 1985. In 1991 Ada became an Emergency Medical Technician. She helped provide an essential and otherwise unavailable service to countless local residents for over a decade. She touched many lives with her volunteering efforts. In 2000, Son died, closing another chapter in Ada's life.

Her last chapter was one of travel and family. She didn't slow down though. Between trips she stayed busy tending her yard and flowers. Ada always loved reading, and as she aged and spent more time inside, she read hundreds and hundreds of books. They took her on travels, adventures and history. She eventually slowed down when she got to her 80's. Up until she was 86, Ada still split and stacked her firewood. Arthritis kept her from getting up onto a tractor and making hay, an activity which she loved.

When the years of work, fun and family finally caught up to her, she would say "I'm ready to go". During the last month of her life, she slowly slipped away. Her final days were spent with family and friends at her side.

Ada was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands and her brother, Alan Penn Edwards. She outlived many friends and family; each funeral a reminder that her turn was coming some day, but she didn't dwell on dying. She enjoyed life.

Ada Christine Gray is survived by her elder sister, Clara Holley of Mariposa, CA, two sons, Stuart Eric Freeman of Abilene TX, Donald Terence Freeman of Mena AR and one daughter, Sondra Mailloux of North Reading, MA. Ada was a proud Grandmother of her 6 grandsons; Christopher Gallagher, Darren Gallagher, Dylan Gallagher, Shane Freeman, Benjamin Freeman and Andrew Freeman. She had 2 great granddaughters; Addisen Freeman and Payton Gallagher. Ada also leaves behind special friend, Jim Boles and his family. A multitude of friends, family and acquaintances will feel a void in their lives at her passing.

Ada Christine Gray's remains were sent for cremation. At a later date, family members will reunite Ada with her parents and grandparents at Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery in Kealakekua Hawaii. A memorial service will be held in Watson OK in the near future.