Obituary for George Gray

George Gray

February 2, 1928 – January 4, 2023

George Oneal Gray, 94, passed away on January 4, 2023. He was born February 2, 1928, on Ground Hogs Day in Woods County, on the family farm, the son of George and Nellie (Mitchell) Gray. On the farm growing up with family is where he got to meet his best friend in this world, his brother, Olen. Viewing will be between 11:00 AM and 8:00 PM, Thursday, January 12, 2023, at Trout Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Tonkawa. A service of remembrance will be held at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 13, 2023, at the United Methodist Church, 410 E. Grand, Tonkawa, OK. Interment will be at 2:30 PM, Friday, January 13, 2023, at the Capron Cemetery, Capron OK. Those unable to attend the Funeral Ceremony, may attend virtually on the Trout Funeral Home website, www.troutfuneralhome.com and click on the live-stream or toolbar icon on the top right corner after 9:45 AM. Arrangements are under the direction of Trout Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Tonkawa, 505 Thunderbird Rd, Tonkawa, OK 74653.

Oneal graduated from Capron High School, class of 1946. Following graduation, he wanted to be a Park Ranger, but after attending one semester at NWOSU, he decided college was not for him. He returned home to help his dad work the family farm. He was inducted during the Korean War in November 28, 1950, and served until November 16, 1952. He remained in the ERC (Enlisted Reserve Corps) until October 8, 1956. After his discharge from the Army, he returned home to help his dad build the family house.

In September of 1956, he asked Norma Joy Miller, a family friend, to go to a show with him and they were married on May 16, 1957, during a downpour that caused concern if they would be able to get to the church. Joy’s dad put cardboard in front of the cars radiator and drove through the deep water. They celebrated 65 years of marriage. They lived in Alva and the Capron area until they moved to Missouri in 1960, where Oneal worked on a ranch and owned a small farm of his own. In 1963, a family friend, Earnest Tyler, sent Joy a letter and told her she needed to come home to help with her parents. They continued to farm and in 1968, started the Gray’s Camper Sales and building toppers under the business name, Grayco. He also, worked for Alfalfa County and served as County Commissioner for a while, after which he returned to working for the county. They moved to Medford, OK, in 1991, and ran an antique store until they moved to Tonkawa in 2010. Oneal was an active member of the United Methodist Church.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Orland, and a sister Oneta. Surviving, in addition to his wife, Norma Joy (Miller) Gray, are his sister, Orieta, of Alva; his brother, Olen and his wife, Joy, of Capron, OK, and his sister, Nellie Obellah of Adrian, MO; daughters, Pamela Schmidt and her husband, Richard, of Newton, KS, and their children, Bret Schmidt and wife, Breckyn, Luke Schmidt, Nancy Carpenter and her husband, Nathan, of Brookline, MO, and their children, Christian Blake Carpenter and his wife, Cziara, and child, Leona of Derby, KS, Mason Carpenter of Springfield, MO; sons; Mark Gray of Alva and his wife, Jill, and children, Andrew Gray and wife, Ashleigh, of Ponca City, OK, Trina Reeves of Anthony KS, Ashley Cochran, Tulsa, OK, Anthony Cochran and Jon McAlpin of Alva, OK, George Delbert Gray of Tonkawa, OK and his wife, Kerri, and their children, Cindy of Tonkawa, OK, Jake of Tonkawa, OK and Mathew of Springfield, IL, Myron Gray of Lebanon, MO, and his wife, Mary, and their child, Brooke and many nieces and nephews.

Those who wish to remember Oneal in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the United Methodist Church of Capron, 1217 1ST Ave., Capron, OK 73717-9021.

Source: Trout Funeral Home