Patsy Jo Wray

1944 - 2024

Patsy Jo Wray
Born: August 13, 1944 in Nacogdoches, TX
Died: December 18, 2024 in McHenry, IL
Patsy Jo Wray (nee Hines) 80, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, after a long battle with Frontotemporal Dementia. She passed peacefully with loved ones by her side praying, holding her hands, and whispering gentle words of goodbye. Patsy was born on August 13, 1944, in Nacogdoches, Texas, to Curtis B. Hines and Mattie Lee (Roberts)Hines. She was an amazing wife, an attentive mother to six, a loving Mimi to fifteen grandchildren, a daughter, a sister, the fun aunt, and a loyal, caring, confidant to her countless, lifelong friends.
Patsy was known for her beautiful and vibrant smile, great hugs, and unwavering support for her family. Laughing with Patsy was never boring. She loved sewing, knitting, and needlepoint. She meticulously wrapped presents with beautiful, homemade one-of-a-kind bows and enjoyed watching police dramas on TV and anything with Sylvester Stallone in it.
Patsy was the fourth of five children born into the hardworking, faith-filled, and loving home of Curtis B. and Mattie Lee Hines. The Hines moved around Texas and Louisianna a lot due to Curtis' job at the United Gas Company but they settled in Austin, Texas for Patsy's high school years. She graduated from Stephen F. Austin High School in 1962 and was a dental assistant briefly before joining American Airlines's Stewardess College in 1964. There she had intensive 6-week training in over 100 topics from the Theory of Flight to Meteorology. Patsy flew for American Airlines from 1964 through 1967. Then she married Paul F. Wray, had a wonderful family, and went back to work as a Flight Attendant for American Airlines from 1999 through 2014 when her kids were grown.
During the in-between years, she volunteered for school events, clubs, and churches usually offering one of her creative talents. She worked at soup kitchens. She and a dear friend had a wallpaper-hanging business called The Paper Bags. She also worked with another dear friend at a high-end fabric store selling luxurious fabrics and offering design advice. Patsy left behind beautiful items that her family will forever cherish. Her favorite job was that of Mimi to her grandkids. Sadly, many will never know the woman she was before FTD. We will make sure her story is told to them because it is too extraordinary not to be.
Patsy is survived by her husband, Paul F. Wray, and children Mark Wray, Paula Wray, Dan (Lisa) Wray, Dave Wray, Mary (Andy) Anderson, and Tim (Jill) Wray. Her grandchildren, Andrew Fugatt, Madi Wray, Izzy Fugatt, Delaney Wray, Emma Wray, Luke Anderson, Gracie Wray, Abby Anderson, Lily Wray, Quincy Wray, Colton Wray, Keirsten Anderson, Evan Wray, Levi Wray and Calvin Wray, and her brother Larry (Maria) Hines.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis B. Hines and Mattie Lee Hines, as well as siblings Gene Hines, Dianne (Tom) Gilchrist, and Jerry Hines.
In place of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Patsy's memory to her grandson Colton Paul Wray for his continued fight against childhood brain cancer.
A celebration of life will take place at a later date.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Justen Funeral Home, Mchenry, IL. For information, please call 815-385-2400, or visit www.justenfh.com, where friends and loved ones may share memories of Patsy on her tribute wall.