Joy K. Gray

Kizzy 'Joy' K. (Harris, Newark) Gray was born on 9 September 1934 to Charles and Laverne Harris. From the earliest, she was a fighter. She had to be. Grief was present from the beginning: losing a parent at an early age, moving in with extended family shortly thereafter, hustling at times as a virtual single mother, twice-grieving widow, courageous cancer-survivor.

Being the youngest of three brothers and two sisters meant Joy had had to be tough. After her mother passed in Joy's ninth year, she lived with her widowed father until she was on the verge of becoming a teenager, at which time she moved in with her sister Clara who raised her along with her own family. Young Joy deeply grieved the loss of her parents but she fought and emerged all the stronger.

She graduated from Capitol Hill High school in OKC in 1952. She met the love of her life, Bob Newark, at church; shortly after, on 1 June 1953, they married. They raised three children, sons Robert and Keith and a daughter, Pam. After an initial foray into the workforce at an insurance agency, Joy joined The Salvation Army Headquarters in OKC in 1958, serving in a number of roles and retiring in 2005 as a statistician.

Bob's service in the Air Force spanned the whole of the Korean and Vietnam eras, taking the family to stops in South Carolina and Texas. His service also meant that his call would take him away from the family for months at a time. During such times, Joy ably raised the three children as a virtual single mother. She was lovingly tough as she raised three kids while working full time. It wasn't always easy with her in these moments and it wasn't always appreciated what she meant by it. It was always clear, nonetheless, that she loved her children well. Joy and Bob were joyfully married for 30 years until his passing on 18 December 1983. Joy deeply grieved his loss but she fought and emerged all the stronger.

For the next several years, she focused much of her attention on her grandchildren. She stocked boxes and boxes of Cheerios for Sunday night dinners. She drove back and forth from OKC to Texas in the crimson Crown Victoria to visit grandchildren. She kept Furr's in business by taking grandchildren for endless red Jello cups. Good grades produced trips to the toy aisle at K-Mart. She introduced her grandchildren to coffee and Uno. She attended every grandchild-starring event she could. While also lovingly tough on the grandkids (but not to the same extent as with her children!), there was never doubt as to her care for them.

In 1987, Joy met (another!) Bob (at church!) and they married 29 October 1988. Their union added two more adult children to the family: Russell, Bob's son, and Pat, Bob's daughter, along with children from each. Joy and Bob built a life together, seeking to combine two families into one. She loved her new grandchildren as she loved her old grandchildren. After almost another 30 years of marriage, Bob passed on 30 December 2010. Again, she grieved. Again, she fought. Again, she emerged stronger.

Joy was diagnosed with lymphoma in early 2011, which she faced head on, enduring difficult treatments. Again, she grieved. Again, she fought. Again, she emerged stronger. Later that year, she was declared cancer-free.

Joy loved the church and loved Jesus. She, as long as she was healthy, faithfully served those around her. Having fought the good fight, this good and faithful servant passed away on 25 February 2026 at her daughter's home where, for the last several years of her decline into dementia, she received faithful care-day in and day out-by her daughter and son-in-law.

She was preceded in death by her by her parents, siblings and husbands. She is survived by four generations, including five children and their spouses, fourteen grandchildren and their spouses, 20+ great-grandchildren and their spouses and a great-great grandson, James; her niece, Darlene, and husband, Bill; and a sister-in-law, Myrt.

The family would like to thank the staff of Visiting Angels, most especially True. They would also like to thank the staff of Frontier Hospice, especially Sheree, Tammy and Summer.

At 11:00am on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, at Sunny Lane Cemetery, 4000 SE 29th St, Del City, OK 73115, Joy will be laid to rest at a graveside service to await the Resurrection, wherein, by the power of the Holy Spirit, she will emerge the strongest yet.