Mary Ann Gray, 79 of Rome, passed away Thursday morning, August 17, 2017.

Mary Ann lived in Rome for the past 50 plus years but she was most definitely a Texas Gal. Born July 15, 1938 in Stephenville, TX, she attended and graduated Stephenville High School and finished her studies at Abilene Christian University. She fell in love with a young man from Mississippi and left the Lone Star State with him to a little town near an Air Force Base in Rome. Here, Mary Ann and Bob raised not just her kids, but her children’s friends, the kids at church, and any soul who needed a mother to remind them to stand up straight and to get in out of the rain. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ. She taught many of us during her time teaching bible classes at church, Camp Hunt, or an impromptu bible study. Mary Ann shared her love of God with everyone she ever sat down and talked with and had a genuine love for everyone she met. Mary Ann enjoyed coloring books and Crayola crayons. She was always up for a good game of Scrabble, but she loved family above all else.

She is survived by her brother; eight children, Ali Tate (Tim), Mary Smith (Alvin), Gene Messenger (Donna), Genie VanAsdale (David), Jim Gray (Clara), John Gray (Rosellen), Rosemary Meredith-Ottavi (Gene) and Gregory Gray (Rachel); 18 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren. There are too many names to mention who have been touched by Mary Ann. She was always ready to welcome you into her home and her heart, give you a hug, or tell you the truth whether you wanted to hear it or not. Mary Ann was family to so very many people. For her, her family was not limited to her children; she opened her home to foster children and countless others whom she welcomed into her fold. Mary Ann was preceded in death by the love of her life, Bobby Ray Gray, and her granddaughter, Avery Kailynn Meredith.

While the hearts of those who loved her are heavy, there is joy in the knowledge that she is in heaven singing with the choir and in the warm embrace of her beloved. We will all miss this amazing mother, sister, friend and teacher and encourage all with one of her favorite scriptures, Ephesians 3:14-21, “For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory, he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Aug. 27th at 3 PM at the Church of Christ, 734 Hickory Street, Rome, NY 13440.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Rome Church of Christ.

Please offer online condolences at: www.BarryFuneralHome.com.

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