Brenda Marie Gray

Brenda Marie (Elliott) Gray, 83, a long-time resident of Seneca, MO, passed away on November 19, 2025 in her home in Wyandotte, OK.

Brenda was born on January 30, 1942 to Richard and Dona (Bradley) Elliott in Wyandotte, OK. At a young age, she fell in love with Jesus and made it her life's mission to introduce Jesus to everyone she met. After she graduated Wyandotte High School in 1960, Brenda graduated from Midwest Bible Institute in Webb City, MO, where she was known to be a top student.

Close friends to Brenda set her up on a blind date with a handsome young man, Larry Gray. The two immediately had a connection but Brenda told him that she would not continue dating him if he was not a Christian. Larry started attending church, gave his heart to Jesus, and his life changed forever. On June 4, 1965, Larry and Brenda were married. Together they had 4 children that they raised in a strict and loving Christ-centered home.

Brenda truly embodied the word homemaker. While Larry finished college, focused on his career as Seneca Postmaster, and was a leader in the community and at church, Brenda was making their home a place of love, great food (especially those pies!), and fun while focused on Jesus. She decorated for every holiday, kept a clean house, landscaped her yard (she never met a flower she didn't like), held Bible studies for the neighborhood kids, pulled a few pranks, and had dinner on the table at 5:30. Brenda was a Wyandotte Tribal Citizen and encouraged her children and grandchildren to learn more of their heritage and was very proud of their roles of cultural revitalization and leadership for their people. Through the years, her ministries in the church included youth pastor, children's pastor, and Sunday School teacher. In her later years, she encouraged everyone she met to go to church with her and she would preach to anyone who would listen.

After nearly 31 years, she has finally been reunited with the love of her life, Larry, and is celebrating with a host of family and friends in Heaven. Brenda is survived by her 4 children: Vonda Foster of Wyandotte, OK, Keith and Michelle Gray of Neosho, MO, Clifton and Heidi Gray of Sacramento, CA, and Kim and Arturo Garcia of Seneca, MO; her sister Shirley Couch of Tahlequah, OK and brother David and Diane Elliott of Stockton, CA; 12 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

The visitation will be at Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home in Seneca, MO on Monday, November 24 from 6 to 7 pm. Funeral service will be at Seneca Assembly of God on Tuesday, November 25 at 10 am with Denny Sikes and Mark Landreth officiating. Burial will be in the Seneca Cemetery with Chief Billy Friend officiating.