Rosie Viola Gray's Obituary
Rosie Viola (Miller) Gray, age 91, of Howard, Kansas, passed away at the Greenwood County Hospital on February 14, 2013. Rosie had been a resident of the Howard Twilight Manor nursing home since October 2011. She was born on July 5, 1921, in Aurora, Arkansas, the daughter of Oscar and Sarah Miller.
Rosie’s family moved to Elk County in 1922. On December 4, 1939, Rosie married Jack Gray of Howard. They farmed on the Elk River until Jack went into the Navy in 1943. After Jack’s stint in the Navy, the couple moved to Independence, Missouri, where he began a career in the grocery business. Rosie was largely a homemaker but became involved in several home business activities.
Rosie and Jack moved back to Howard in 1989 after Jack’s retirement and they maintained a home on south Perry Street. At Jack’s death in November 2006, they were one month shy of being married for sixty-seven years.
Rosie is survived by her son Waldo E. Gray of Centennial, Colorado, her daughter Connie Rockstad of Concrete, Washington, two brothers; Charlie Miller of Winfield, Kansas and Dwayne Miller of Sterling, Kansas and one sister Ellen Curtis of Leesburg, Florida. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jack; her sister, Lola King; her sister, Mary Lodean Lauffer; and her brother, Johnnie Miller.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at the Howard United Methodist Church with Pastor Charles Cryderman officiating. Visitation will be Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be at Grace Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the Howard Twilight Manor and may be left with the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Countryside – Zimmerman Funeral Home, Howard, Kansas.
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