Harold John Edward "Lefty" Gray

JERSEYVILLE-  Harold John Edward "Lefty" Gray, 88, died at 1:55 p.m, Monday, February 24, 2014 at the Jerseyville Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.He was born in Granite City on Oct. 2, 1925, and was the son of the late Mack Marlin & Edna Ethel (Martin) Gray.Lefty grew up in Hartford, and served his country during World War II with the United States Navy.  A resident of Jersey County since 1951, he had been employed for many years as a pipefitter with Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 553 in Wood River before retiring.He married the former Margaret M. Trautt on Nov. 22, 1944 in Chicago, and they shared 56 years before her death on March 17, 2001.Surviving are a daughter & son in law, Patricia & James Patrick Brewer of Nauchoochee, Ga.; six sons & daughters in law, Lawrence "Larry" and Carol Gray of Jerseyville, William "Bill" & Julia Gray of Brighton, John & Donna Gray of Coleman, Wi., Paul Michael Gray of New Mexico, Harold & Joyce Gray of Jerseyville, and Geoffrey Gray of Duncan, Ok.; 25 Grandchildren; numerous great and great great grandchildren; two sisters, Gail Carr of Chesterfield and Marsha Slaten of Jerseyville.In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by his son, Anthony Norbert Gray on Nov. 14, 2000; two grandchildren, Leta Anne Brewer and James P. Brewer; a great granddaughter, Mary Helena Gray; six sisters, Maxine Kuehnel, Louise Grenzebach, Margie Morrison, Annabelle Henson, Donna Cline, Kay Walz; and four brothers, William, Eugene, Carl & Mack Gray.Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m., Saturday at the Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville.Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Saturday at the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Jerseyville, with Father William Hembrow officiating.Burial will be in the St. Francis Xavier Cemetery with the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 conducting military graveside rites.Memorials may be given to the Jerseyville American Legion Post 492 Color Guard or to the Holy Ghost/St. Francis Catholic School.

Obit Provided By:
Crawford Funeral Home