1/30/11
Dec. 1, 1949 – Sept. 18, 2011
Lela Carleen Gray, 61, died peacefully, as her sister and brother-in-law held her hands and prayed for her, on the morning of Sept. 18, 2011 at Alpha House in Sweet Home.
She was born Dec. 1, 1949 in Columbus, Texas to Carlon Thomas and Lela Loriene (Matlock) Gray.
She was born with Down’s Syndrome. From the time she was born, she was called Carleen.
In 1950, her family moved to Elk City, Okla.; then, in 1961, to Ardmore, Okla.
In 1963, Miss Gray became a resident of Pauls Valley State School until 1980, at which time she became a resident of McCall’s Chapel in Ada, Okla. In 2003, she lived in several different nursing homes around Ada. In 2007, her older sister, who lives in Albany, moved her to a Mennonite group home, Alpha House, in Sweet Home, where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Miss Gray loved to dance. She had a great sense of rhythm and she wouldn’t sit down if the music was playing. She had a particular dance move that her family called “The Carleen Dance.”
Each year she participated in the Special Olympics and won medals in the softball throw and other events.
Each year, she and her parents would drive from Oklahoma to San Jose, Calif. to spend Christmas with her married older sister, Beverly, and her family. After her parents died, each December Miss Gray was able to buy her own airplane ticket to visit her sister.
Miss Gray liked to sit and talk with friends and family over a cup of coffee, listen and sing along to music, watch movies and TV, weave pot holders for gifts, color pictures, write letters and organize her possessions.
She loved Jesus, going to church, singing hymns, saying the blessings before meals, which always ended in her standard phrase, “Dig In!” She was tenderhearted, full of joy, and very affectionate.
She loved giving hugs and receiving them. Her favorite phrase to any family member was “I love you.” She was very neat and loved to help around the home.
In 2002, Miss Gray was diagnosed with Down’s dementia. Despite the debilitating effects of Down’s dementia, she still responded to her birthday, Christmas and the love shown to her.
Miss Gray is survived by her sister, Beverly A. Cho, and brother-in-law Joseph Brosnan of Albany; nieces Deanna Collins and husband Dave of Folsom, Calif., Melinda LaBelle and husband Chris of Corvallis; nephew Thomas M.T. Cho of Fullerton, Calif.; four great nieces and nephews; and many other people who were part of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Carlon and Lela Gray; and an older sister, Fontella Mae Gray.
Services will be at a later date at Alpha House. Donations in Miss Gray’s name can be made to Evergreen Hospice or Oregon Mennonite Residential Services.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.