Obituary of Margaret Adda Frances Gray

GRAY: Margaret Adda Francis Gray passed away peacefully at the Brandon Regional Health Centre on December 8, 2010. Margaret was born July 30, 1914 at the Cochrane farm in the Tarbolton District, RM of Daly.Margaret graduated from Normal School in Brandon, and taught at Harrow and Clinton Schools. It was at Harrow School that she met Lawrence Gray and they were married in 1940, settling into farming on the Homestead at 31-10-20 in the RM of Whitehead.Margaret involved herself in a multitude of groups and organizations over her lifetime and gave tirelessly to all of them, but the love of her life was her family. Summers were spent gardening and growing beautiful flowers around the house. The garden served to be a valuable resource providing food for the family throughout the year. Margaret encouraged all three of her sons to participate in the 4-H garden club, where she was a leader for many years. This desire to plant things and see them grow is continuing in the lives of some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Life on the farm for Margaret involved lots of hard work preparing meals for the family including seasonal hired help. The whole family enjoyed the wonderful meals. Often the dessert included a delicious Saskatoon pie made from the wild berries that she and the rest of the family had picked from the farm. Margaret had a desire to see her children learn how to play musical instruments. Violin and piano lessons were taken in Brandon. This meant that the twelve mile trip to Brandon was made hundreds of times. Hockey and baseball games also added to the time spent travelling back and forth with Margaret doing most of the driving. During the last few years of her life, Margaret enjoyed scrapbooking with the ladies in her family. The result was a beautiful scrapbook containing a significant amount of family history. Much of the book involves her great grandchildren. Though not a completed work, she continued to add pictures and comments even in her ninety sixth year. Christmas time was always special for Margaret as she enjoyed the visits with family. A family tradition developed over the years where they would all come together on Christmas Eve at the farm. Again, Margaret would prepare a beautiful meal and afterwards the farmhouse would be filled with the music of the violins even lasting late into the night. Life became especially difficult for Margaret during Lawrence's lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease. She worked tirelessly to provide for his needs and make his life comfortable until she was no longer able. While Lawrence lived in Assiniboine Centre and Fairview Home, Margaret continued to spend many hours at his side. Margaret was predeceased by her Father Cameron Cochrane, Mother Sarah Jane Smith, sister Helen Milne and brothers Bill and Sanford Cochrane and her husband Lawrence. Surviving are her three sons, Cameron (Kenzie), Bill (Trudy) and Warren (Marilyne); 7 grandchildren: Elizabeth, Marla (Ron) Winters, Jennifer (Bruce) Newitt, Melanie (Blaine) Turner, Curtis (Shauna), Kelly (Christina), Timothy (Heather); eleven great grandchildren: Ayssa Newitt, Anson and Avila Gray, Alison and Jordyn Gray, Breanne, Tyler and Brett Turner; and Brandon, Shelby and Emma Gray. A funeral service was held at the Bible Baptist Church on Monday, December 13, 2010 with Pastor John Reaves officiating. Pallbearers were: Ron Winters, Bruce Newitt, Kelly Gray, Timothy Gray, Curtis Gray and Blaine Turner. Interment followed at the Brandon Cemetery.If friends and family so desire, donations may be made to the Fairview Home, 1351, 13th Street, Brandon, MB R7A 4S6. Messages of condolence may be placed at www.brockiedonovan.com.