Ann Louise (Ritchey) Gray |
| Posted 2018-07-15 by mhenderson |
| Published in Today's News Herald on July 15, 2018 - Lake Havasu City, Arizona - Ann Louise (Ritchey) Gray passed away peacefully with her husband and children at her side on June 26, 2018, in Claremont, CA, after a series of recent health setbacks. She was born on May 22, 1937, in Emporium, PA, to Clarence LaVelle and Helen (Gundy) Ritchey. After WWII, her family moved to Bayside, Long Island and then to Scotia, NY, where she worked with her family in operating a small neighborhood movie theater, restaurant, laundromat and beauty salon. While she learned how to cut hair, serve customers and sell popcorn and penny candy, it was her gift of "playing by ear" at age five that led her father to buy her a Hammond organ at age 15, which she played in the theater between intermissions of double features and during news reels. This love of playing music led her to continue studying piano and then organ in high school and accompany choirs in school and at church, eventually leading her to attend Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, majoring in organ with a minor in piano. It was during her time in Princeton that she would be set up on a blind date with a young man named Barrie Gray, who had actually lived across the river from her in Schenectady, NY, but never met until he was nearing graduation from Princeton Theological Seminary. The two were married four months after their first date and following his ordination as a minister. The two would begin married life in Houston, TX, followed by opportunities at churches in Gallup, NM; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO and Mesa, AZ, before accepting a call to a new ministry opportunity in Lake Havasu City. She joined her husband at Community United Presbyterian Church and served as organist for the church for nearly 20 years, in addition to numerous church-related activities, to include coordinating church dinners, leading women's retreats, serving as a deacon and acting as a Stephen Ministry Leader. She also served in a number of other community volunteer opportunities, to include serving as a Hospice volunteer. She was recognized by the Beta Sigma Phi organization in 1986 as Woman of the Year for her service to the community. After departing Lake Havasu City in the early 90's, she and her husband lived in the Phoenix area until moving to California 16 years ago. Her love of playing music carried over into teaching piano and organ to students from age 7 to 70 over a span of close to 30 years. She was regularly sought out by other musicians to accompany them for recitals, weddings and performances and, until this year, continued to play regularly for church services, weddings, funerals and other functions. She and her husband also initiated a program in 1993 called Clergy Exchange International, which coordinated short-term clergy exchanges between English-speaking countries in 31 different countries. It was through the efforts to grow this program that they were able to visit many of countries, to include Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland and England. Prior travels over the years as tour group leaders included trips to China, Taiwan and a number of European countries, to include France, Switzerland and Germany, where they led a tour to view the Passion Play in Oberammergau in 1990. In addition to being a dedicated and loving wife of 59 years and nurturing mother and grandmother, she was a caring, compassionate friend to many. She was a giver in every sense of the word, a volunteer in the communities she called home and was quick to credit others over seeking praise for herself. She was foremost a humble servant whose faith carried her through good times and bad. It was this "simple faith" she spoke of that always served as her foundation and has now carried her to a better place. She is survived by her brother, Paul L. (Cathy) Ritchey of Scotia, NY; husband Rev. Barrie Gray of Claremont, CA; children David (Sandy) of Phoenix, AZ, Glenn (Erin) of Chandler, AZ, and Elizabeth (Seth Lowe) of Chandler, AZ; and her seven grandchildren: Jessica, Daniel, Allison, Parker, Cameron, Xander and Michaela. A celebration of her life will be held on Friday, July 20th at 3:30 p.m. in Decker Hall at the Pilgrim Place Senior Community in Claremont, CA. In lieu of flowers, her family asks for consideration of donations to Pilgrim Place Residents' Health and Support Program (www.pilgrimplace.org/online_donations.php). |
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