DOROTHY GRAY

1947 ~ 2013

Dorothy Anne (Stappler) Gray, beloved wife of Dean Gray of Medicine Hat passed away suddenly while in the comfort of her home on Friday January 25, 2013 at the age of 65.  Dorothy will be lovingly remembered and missed by her husband, Dean and her sons, Michael Perner and Mark Perner also of Medicine Hat;  sister, Veronica Arndt of Calgary;  sisters-in-law, Susan (Mike) Page of Box Springs, AB and Joan Horner (Richard Spence) of Sunnynook, AB;  brothers-in-law, Myles (Nancy) Gray of Big Stone, AB and Mark (Brenda) Gray of Medicine Hat, and sister-in-law, Marilyn Stappler of Medicine Hat in addition to numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles.  Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, John (1982) and Barbara (Roth) Stappler (2009); brothers, Raymond (1945), Edwin and Ean (1967) and Herbert (2001).  Dorothy was born in Medicine Hat on November 15, 1947 and grew up in the Conquerville area where she attended Conquerville and Bow Island schools.  She moved to Medicine Hat at the age of 17 and worked as long as her health enabled her to. Her working positions ranged from the Treasury Branch, Medicine Hat College, Domglas, CFB Suffield and her own home-based business.  Dorothy was very active in Spiritual activities,  teaching Sunday School, singing in a church choir and giving of herself to others.  “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me.”  An acquaintance once described Dorothy as “a woman of colour”, a very apt description of Dorothy’s passion for colours of clothing and accessories.  She met the love of her life, Dean Gray and they were married August 14, 2004 in Medicine Hat. She was very involved with, and dedicated to “her boys”, sons, Michael and Mark, through in-person and telephone contact. Dorothy raised her sons as a single parent in poverty and the experience marked her with an extreme appreciation for the blessing of having enough food, clothing and shelter and being able to share with others. Dorothy loved cooking big family meals with Dean as her sous chef, and in the summer you would find her hard at work in her kitchen doing home canning (her passion), with Dean by her side. She was a very giving person with a great sense of humour and hearty laugh; her Faith and her family meant everything to her. Dorothy would have liked to express appreciation to her family and friends for their support and to the doctors, and Dean would also like to thank the paramedics, police, Victim’s Assistance, family and friends and Cook Southland for their consideration and kindness.  In honour of Dorothy’s life and in accordance to her wishes, a private visitation and time of silent remembrance for family was held at Cook Southland Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 28, 2013.  No further services will be held.  (Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.cooksouthland.com)  Memorial donation’s in Dorothy’s name may be made directly to the  Hope Street Church (please make cheques payable to: Glenview Nazarene Church), 4072 Strachan Road S.E., Medicine Hat, AB T1B 4Y3 403-529-9300 or The Champion’s Centre, 435 North Railway St S.E., Medicine Hat, AB T1A 2Z3 403-504-0342.  Honoured to serve the family is Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W.   Medicine Hat, Alberta   T1A 4V4  Phone 403-527-6455