Mary Ann Gray

1933 - 2018

Mary Ann Gray

Mary Ann Burnett Gray peacefully left this earth the evening of November 8, 2018 surrounded by her family. She was born September 24, 1933 in Missoula, Montana to Lloyd and Anna Mae (Higgins) Burnett. She spent her early years in Stevensville, Montana in the beautiful Bitterroot Valley. During WWII her family moved to Richland, WA where Mary Ann attended high school. College took her back to her Montana roots where she attended the University of Montana in Missoula. She was active in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and earned her degree in business administration.

After graduating, Mary Ann headed to Seattle and a job at Boeing. During her time at Boeing she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Gray. They were married on July 18, 1959. The following year Mary Ann changed career paths and became a stay-at-home mom. The family first lived in Edmonds, WA and then moved to Normandy Park to be closer to Bob's job at Alaska Airlines.

Mary Ann was a wonderful, loving mother. She spent endless hours at swim meets, baseball games and shuttling her kids to and from activities. She was an excellent pie maker and her applesauce warmed your soul.

Faith, family and friends were all very important to her. She was active in bible study and spent much of her time volunteering for the swim team, the school, the church and the Des Moines food bank.

The Grays enjoyed many travel adventures - a Kenyan safari, the Great Wall of China and the Egyptian pyramids to name a few. Countless family memories were made at their beach home on Bainbridge Island and on the sunny shores of Hawaii.

Mary Ann took on the challenges of life with a quiet dignity and grace. She was a kind and thoughtful lady with a gentle sense of humor and a beautiful smile. She delighted in hearing about her grandchildren's adventures, morning walks on the beach and a good cup (or even a mediocre cup) of coffee.

Mary Ann's parents, her brother, Jack, her grandson, Thomas, and her loving husband, Bob preceded her in death. She is survived by her children: Patricia of Bothell, Robert (Sandra) of Seattle, Marilyn (John) of Bainbridge Island, Kathryn (Arnie) of Sammamish and John (Kari) of Bainbridge Island, and her ten grandchildren: Matthew, Maria, Michael, Anna, Lynn, Elena, Christina, Julia, Evan and Carmen.

Mary Ann was the foundation of our family and she will be dearly missed.

A memorial Mass was held at Saint James Cathedral in Seattle. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Union Gospel Mission.