BARBARA GRAY

BARBARA GRAY 11/28/1933 - 07/17/2025 Barbara Sue Gray (Chesher) was born on November 28, 1933, in Oklahoma City, Okla., to Thomas and Blanche Chesher. She was the seventh of eight children. Barbara graduated from Classen High School in Oklahoma City in 1952. That same year, on October 11, she married her high school sweetheart, Donald J. Gray. Together, they raised two children, Gregory and Donna Sue. Sue began her professional career as a secretary at Lee Way Motor Freight, later working at Rouse Electronics and as a bookkeeper for Wayne's Trailer Service. In the later years of her career, she operated her own bookkeeping and accounting business, contracting with several oil and oil-related companies, including Parker Oil and Darnell Drilling. In her youth, Sue was a part of a swimming team, coached by her father, alongside her four sisters and brothers. She participated in various sports during high school, including field hockey and softball. As an adult, she continued engaging in sports by playing fastpitch softball and bowling for Lee Way teams. Sue was also a skilled ceramicist, creating numerous gifts for friends and family. One of her proudest achievements was making eight ceramic chess sets for her son. Seven of these sets won multiple awards at the Oklahoma State Fair, including the President's Trophy. She had a passion for the outdoors and enjoyed boating, fishing, and water skiing at Lake Eufaula and Lake Texoma, where she and Don established a lake residence in 1970. The couple traveled to many exciting and wonderful places with family and friends, visiting places like Hawaii, Mexico, and attending OU football games, Indy and NASCAR races, and air shows. She was devoted fan of OU women's basketball and softball. Barbara Sue passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025, at the age of 91 in her son's home, where she had lived for the past five and half years. At her side were her son Gregory, great-grandchildren Kristina and Nick, and Charlie Brown, the overgrown weeny dog. She was preceded in death by her husband Don, daughter Donna Sue, her parents Thomas and Blanche, father-and mother-in-law Leonard P. and Wyona Gray, her seven brothers and sisters - Thomas Jr., Grayford, David, Nancy, Ina May, Patricia, and Betty, and daughter-in-law Rickie Gray (Greg's wife). She is survived by her son Gregory, three step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, eight great-great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, and 11 nieces and nephews and their families. She loved her family very much. We have lost a loving, funny, and selfless person and she will be missed. The family wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to her doctors and caregivers for the compassionate care, allowing us to enjoy her presence for 91 wonderful years - Doctors Stepp, Craven, Hollin, McMinn and Reeves, as well as the teams at SSM Shawnee Hospital, Specialty Select Hospital, and Regency Skilled Nursing. Services will be August 9, 2025, at Putnam City Christian Church with Rev Dale McConnell presiding with internment at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in OKC.