SIMON GRAY SR.

Simon Gray Sr., 90, of Kankakee, IL, departed this world on Monday, December 10, 2012 at Provena St. MaryÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Hospital in the presence of his family after being ill for a period of time. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012 at Lax Mortuary and again on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 10:00 am until time of Funeral services at 11:00 am at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Kankakee, IL. Pastor C RamÃƒÂ³nt Morris will officiate. Burial will be in Mound Grove Gardens of Memory. Simon Gray Sr. entered this life on June 15, 1922 in Crawford, Mississippi. He was born to Moses A. Gray and Mary M. Mosely Gray. He confessed a belief in Christ at Charity Missionary Baptist Church in Crawford, Mississippi at an early age and in 1977 became a member of the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, in Kankakee, IL. Here he served as a Deacon for many years and was later recognized as an Honorary Deacon. He was a part of the Sunday School Department and its office, a crossing guard for VBS and a working participant in the Deacon and MotherÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Alliance. Simon was united in Holy Matrimony to the former Bertha Mae Rice on April 15, 1952. From this union nine wonderful children were born. Simon was a member of The True Lodge #158 and worked as a line operator for the General Foods Corporation and retired after 35 years of service. He has been a resident of the Kankakee area for many years and will be remembered most for his devotion to his wife and family, his bold witness to Christ, his dutiful work in the church, his awesome ability to divide the word of truth, visiting the sick, mentoring men at the ASA (men recovering from substance abuse), his golfing abilities, his commanding voice and strong grip. He leaves to carry on his legacy, his children, Simon Jr. (Remonia) Gray of Bourbonnais, IL, Berneita Barnes of Joliet, IL, Arthur (Doretha) Gray of Memphis, TN, Pastor Herbert (Audrey) Gray of Park Forest, IL, Timothy (Elaine) Gray of Kankakee, IL, Diane Gray of Flint, MI, Rodney Gray of Kankakee, IL, and Alvita (Enrico) Calhoun of Kankakee, IL; 24 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; one sister and two brothers, Nettie Bell of Flint, MI, Johnnie (Virginia) Gray Sr. of Otisville, MI, and Odis Gray of Flint, MI; sisters in-law and brothers in-law, Earnestine Gray of Flint, MI, Marjorie Gray of East St. Louis, IL, Clara Mitchell of Chicago Heights, IL and Robert Rice of Gordo, AL; special nieces and nephews Mary Dulaney of Flint, MI, Mary Tucker of Swartz Creek, MI and Annie Harris of St. Louis, MO, Arthur Blair Sr. of Columbus, Mississippi and JB OÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Neal of Flint, MI; special sons and daughters, Pastor C. RamÃƒÂ³nt Morris and Fred Houston both of Bourbonnais, IL, Betty J Brooks of Starkville, Mississippi, Chandria (Mark) Purnell of Rosedale, MD, Leon King, Donald Brooks, Phyllis Howery, Bridgette Underwood, Addie Ervin, Brenda Ervin, J. Delinda Watson and Sybil Watson all of Kankakee, IL; Goddaughters, Angel Smith of Charlotte, NC, and Anjya Williams of Kankakee, IL and a host of family, friends and loved ones. Waiting to greet him on the other side are his parents, Moses and Mary Gray, his loving and devoted wife, Bertha Mae Gray, one daughter, Veretta Gray, one grandson, Jeremy A. Gray, four brothers, Moses Gray Jr., James Gray, Jethro Gray Sr. and LaGree Gray, and four sisters, Harriet Dickerson, Josie Mae Hairston, Bessie Will OÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Neal and Hattie Harris. We also would like to acknowledge Catholic Charities, Provena St. MaryÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Hospital staff and nurses, the office of Dr. Ahmed and staff, Addus Healthcare, Our Lady of Victory and Provena Heritage who helped us to care for our Dad. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2Timothy 4:6-8

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SIMON GRAY SR.

June 15, 1922 - December 10, 2012