Ruth Ann Gray

February 22, 1941 - November 16, 2024 Ruth Ann Gray died peacefully in hospice care on Nov. 16, 2024. She was born February 22, 1941, to Milton and Laverne (Rodee) Morse in Douglas, Arizona, where her father was the high school coach. Not long after, the family moved to Tucson, Arizona, where her father joined the faculty of the University of Arizona as an assistant football coach and physical education teacher. With World War II underway, her father joined the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific, while Ruth Ann remained in Tucson with her mother and sister. After the war, the family moved to Phoenix, where her father became supervisor of physical education for the Phoenix Elementary schools and recreation supervisor of the Phoenix Parks District.
Ruth Ann attended Kenilworth school through eighth grade and graduated from West Phoenix High School in 1959. Her childhood was spent swimming, lifeguarding, taking ballet and tap lessons, participating in Girl Scouts, and reading everything she could get her hands on at home and the library. Reading and her excellent memory led to many friends calling her the "Jeopardy Queen" in later years.
At West High, Ruth Ann was involved in many activities and was selected for the National Honor Society. She attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she was a member of Gamma Phi Beta Sorority, chosen for Spurs, sophomore women's honorary served as a Supreme Court justice, was Associate Student social life chair, and served on the student union activities board, worked on the "Desert" yearbook staff, and was selected for Who's Who in America Colleges and Universities. She majored in elementary education and after graduation taught one year in Glendale, Arizona, before moving to Southern California. She taught in Orange for many years at Killefer, Handy and Lampson elementary schools. She was also a master teacher for California State University at Fullerton. In November 1969, she married Robert Joseph Gray. The marriage ended in divorce but produced what she considered her life's greatest accomplishment, son Ryan Christopher.
Later, she started a Mary Kay Cosmetics business, was the education coordinator for the Orange County Bar Association, and was a sales assistant for Hyatt Resorts of Hawaii. Hyatt promoted her to Midwest regional sales manager that resulted in a move to brand new experiences living in the Chicago area. She made many new friends and traveled extensively throughout the Midwest, the Caribbean, Europe and China.
Ruth Ann is survived by son Ryan (Sonyo), granddaughter Ariabella, grandson Thaideon, sister Monica (Larry) Stallings, four nieces and two nephews, and countless friends.
Donations can be made in her name to the Gamma Phi Beta Endearment Fund, University of Arizona Wildcat Club, and University of Arizona Cancer Center.