Evelyn Pearl Gray
September 17, 1930 - January 02, 2022
Evelyn Pearl Gray was born on Agana (Hagåtña), Guam on September 17, 1930. She passed away peacefully with her five daughters at her side on January 2, 2022 in Livermore, California. Friends and family will always remember the sparkle and energy with which she embraced her life. She brought an ability to love unconditionally, care and do for those she loved without concern for herself, and gave wholeheartedly of her time, attention, and practical sense. As her father-in-law Mel, Sr., and husband Mel, Jr., said often, "Nothing is too much trouble for Evie."
Evie was preceded in death by her mother Emelia Long. At the age of 11 she lost her father, Benjamin F. Long, who gave his life on December 7, 1941, while serving on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. She is also preceded by her brothers Richard and Benjamin and her dear mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary and Melvin Gray, Sr. She lost her cherished husband, Melvin M. Gray, Jr., in 2015. In 1979 Evie endured the sadness of losing her only son, Richard, at the age of 18.
She is survived by her five daughters, Terri (Paul), Susan (Mike), Jane, Lorraine, and Patricia (Jeff), as well as her sisters Betty Burkhart and Arlene O'Connor, and her brother Doug (Beverly). She was a beloved sister-in-law and is survived by Mel's brothers Robert (Sally), and Tom Gray. She will be thought of often and missed greatly by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as innumerable nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved very much.
Evie's early childhood was spent on the island of Guam where her mother Emelia was born and raised until she met and married Evie's father, a Navy sailor. She was the second of six children and often shared memories of sailing back and forth between Guam and San Francisco until her family remained in San Francisco when she was 10 years of age.
After her family lost their father in 1941, they moved to San Leandro where she lived until she entered nurses training at Providence Hospital in Oakland in 1948. Upon obtaining her license as a Registered Nurse she signed up to join the Air Force as a flight nurse. Her life might have taken a different turn if she had not met her future husband, Mel, and decided to wait while he served his first months in the Marine Corps. They were engaged upon his return, married in 1953 and moved to Oceanside, California where Mel was stationed at Camp Pendleton. She worked as a nurse there and soon had the first of their six children.
Evie was a natural spear-header of the "working Mom" movement that began in the 1950's. She and Mel soon returned to the Bay Area where they both worked and together took shifts caring for their children, with Evie working night or evening shifts until all of their children were in school. She worked as a nurse at Hunt's Cannery in the early years of her career but her primary love and commitment went to surgical nursing. She worked for many years at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley in the Surgery Department as an operating room nurse. In the latter part of her career she worked, also as an operating room nurse, in a surgical center specializing in plastic surgery in the East Bay. During this time, she participated twice in volunteer medical missions to Hospital de la Familia in the jungles of Guatemala, as part of a team of doctors and nurses who provided much-needed medical treatment to the people of the area.
Wherever Evie worked or played she gathered friends. Although she always maintained that she was "not athletic," she was an avid tennis player in her middle years and after she retired, joined her husband in his love of golf. She walked around Lake Chabot in Castro Valley for years with her "walking ladies" and enjoyed weekend retreats with her "tennis friends." She was loved by many as a member of Blue Lake Springs Country Club during the 10 years that she and Mel lived in the mountains after their retirement and enjoyed her membership as a "Nine Holer" at Monterey Country Club when she and Mel moved to Palm Desert, where they lived together for another 12 years.
Evie returned to the Bay Area in 2018 and was a joy to her family and friends. She remained upbeat and ever fun and retained her magic as Grandma and Great-Grandma (GiGi) to her final days. We feel so fortunate to have had her in our lives. She will be missed beyond measure, but her influence and love will live on for generations to come.
Funeral Services and a Celebration of Life will be held on January 26th, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Michael's Chapel at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 1051 Harder Rd., Hayward, California. A private burial will follow, with a reception to be held afterward at Evie's home in Livermore.
September 17, 1930 - January 02, 2022
Evelyn Pearl Gray was born on Agana (Hagåtña), Guam on September 17, 1930. She passed away peacefully with her five daughters at her side on January 2, 2022 in Livermore, California. Friends and family will always remember the sparkle and energy with which she embraced her life. She brought an ability to love unconditionally, care and do for those she loved without concern for herself, and gave wholeheartedly of her time, attention, and practical sense. As her father-in-law Mel, Sr., and husband Mel, Jr., said often, "Nothing is too much trouble for Evie."
Evie was preceded in death by her mother Emelia Long. At the age of 11 she lost her father, Benjamin F. Long, who gave his life on December 7, 1941, while serving on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. She is also preceded by her brothers Richard and Benjamin and her dear mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary and Melvin Gray, Sr. She lost her cherished husband, Melvin M. Gray, Jr., in 2015. In 1979 Evie endured the sadness of losing her only son, Richard, at the age of 18.
She is survived by her five daughters, Terri (Paul), Susan (Mike), Jane, Lorraine, and Patricia (Jeff), as well as her sisters Betty Burkhart and Arlene O'Connor, and her brother Doug (Beverly). She was a beloved sister-in-law and is survived by Mel's brothers Robert (Sally), and Tom Gray. She will be thought of often and missed greatly by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as innumerable nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved very much.
Evie's early childhood was spent on the island of Guam where her mother Emelia was born and raised until she met and married Evie's father, a Navy sailor. She was the second of six children and often shared memories of sailing back and forth between Guam and San Francisco until her family remained in San Francisco when she was 10 years of age.
After her family lost their father in 1941, they moved to San Leandro where she lived until she entered nurses training at Providence Hospital in Oakland in 1948. Upon obtaining her license as a Registered Nurse she signed up to join the Air Force as a flight nurse. Her life might have taken a different turn if she had not met her future husband, Mel, and decided to wait while he served his first months in the Marine Corps. They were engaged upon his return, married in 1953 and moved to Oceanside, California where Mel was stationed at Camp Pendleton. She worked as a nurse there and soon had the first of their six children.
Evie was a natural spear-header of the "working Mom" movement that began in the 1950's. She and Mel soon returned to the Bay Area where they both worked and together took shifts caring for their children, with Evie working night or evening shifts until all of their children were in school. She worked as a nurse at Hunt's Cannery in the early years of her career but her primary love and commitment went to surgical nursing. She worked for many years at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley in the Surgery Department as an operating room nurse. In the latter part of her career she worked, also as an operating room nurse, in a surgical center specializing in plastic surgery in the East Bay. During this time, she participated twice in volunteer medical missions to Hospital de la Familia in the jungles of Guatemala, as part of a team of doctors and nurses who provided much-needed medical treatment to the people of the area.
Wherever Evie worked or played she gathered friends. Although she always maintained that she was "not athletic," she was an avid tennis player in her middle years and after she retired, joined her husband in his love of golf. She walked around Lake Chabot in Castro Valley for years with her "walking ladies" and enjoyed weekend retreats with her "tennis friends." She was loved by many as a member of Blue Lake Springs Country Club during the 10 years that she and Mel lived in the mountains after their retirement and enjoyed her membership as a "Nine Holer" at Monterey Country Club when she and Mel moved to Palm Desert, where they lived together for another 12 years.
Evie returned to the Bay Area in 2018 and was a joy to her family and friends. She remained upbeat and ever fun and retained her magic as Grandma and Great-Grandma (GiGi) to her final days. We feel so fortunate to have had her in our lives. She will be missed beyond measure, but her influence and love will live on for generations to come.
Funeral Services and a Celebration of Life will be held on January 26th, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Michael's Chapel at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 1051 Harder Rd., Hayward, California. A private burial will follow, with a reception to be held afterward at Evie's home in Livermore.
Evelyn Pearl Gray
September 17, 1930 - January 02, 2022
Evelyn Pearl Gray was born on Agana (Hagåtña), Guam on September 17, 1930. She passed away peacefully with her five daughters at her side on January 2, 2022 in Livermore, California. Friends and family will always remember the sparkle and energy with which she embraced her life. She brought an ability to love unconditionally, care and do for those she loved without concern for herself, and gave wholeheartedly of her time, attention, and practical sense. As her father-in-law Mel, Sr., and husband Mel, Jr., said often, "Nothing is too much trouble for Evie."
Evie was preceded in death by her mother Emelia Long. At the age of 11 she lost her father, Benjamin F. Long, who gave his life on December 7, 1941, while serving on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. She is also preceded by her brothers Richard and Benjamin and her dear mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary and Melvin Gray, Sr. She lost her cherished husband, Melvin M. Gray, Jr., in 2015. In 1979 Evie endured the sadness of losing her only son, Richard, at the age of 18.
She is survived by her five daughters, Terri (Paul), Susan (Mike), Jane, Lorraine, and Patricia (Jeff), as well as her sisters Betty Burkhart and Arlene O'Connor, and her brother Doug (Beverly). She was a beloved sister-in-law and is survived by Mel's brothers Robert (Sally), and Tom Gray. She will be thought of often and missed greatly by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as innumerable nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved very much.
Evie's early childhood was spent on the island of Guam where her mother Emelia was born and raised until she met and married Evie's father, a Navy sailor. She was the second of six children and often shared memories of sailing back and forth between Guam and San Francisco until her family remained in San Francisco when she was 10 years of age.
After her family lost their father in 1941, they moved to San Leandro where she lived until she entered nurses training at Providence Hospital in Oakland in 1948. Upon obtaining her license as a Registered Nurse she signed up to join the Air Force as a flight nurse. Her life might have taken a different turn if she had not met her future husband, Mel, and decided to wait while he served his first months in the Marine Corps. They were engaged upon his return, married in 1953 and moved to Oceanside, California where Mel was stationed at Camp Pendleton. She worked as a nurse there and soon had the first of their six children.
Evie was a natural spear-header of the "working Mom" movement that began in the 1950's. She and Mel soon returned to the Bay Area where they both worked and together took shifts caring for their children, with Evie working night or evening shifts until all of their children were in school. She worked as a nurse at Hunt's Cannery in the early years of her career but her primary love and commitment went to surgical nursing. She worked for many years at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley in the Surgery Department as an operating room nurse. In the latter part of her career she worked, also as an operating room nurse, in a surgical center specializing in plastic surgery in the East Bay. During this time, she participated twice in volunteer medical missions to Hospital de la Familia in the jungles of Guatemala, as part of a team of doctors and nurses who provided much-needed medical treatment to the people of the area.
Wherever Evie worked or played she gathered friends. Although she always maintained that she was "not athletic," she was an avid tennis player in her middle years and after she retired, joined her husband in his love of golf. She walked around Lake Chabot in Castro Valley for years with her "walking ladies" and enjoyed weekend retreats with her "tennis friends." She was loved by many as a member of Blue Lake Springs Country Club during the 10 years that she and Mel lived in the mountains after their retirement and enjoyed her membership as a "Nine Holer" at Monterey Country Club when she and Mel moved to Palm Desert, where they lived together for another 12 years.
Evie returned to the Bay Area in 2018 and was a joy to her family and friends. She remained upbeat and ever fun and retained her magic as Grandma and Great-Grandma (GiGi) to her final days. We feel so fortunate to have had her in our lives. She will be missed beyond measure, but her influence and love will live on for generations to come.
Funeral Services and a Celebration of Life will be held on January 26th, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Michael's Chapel at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 1051 Harder Rd., Hayward, California. A private burial will follow, with a reception to be held afterward at Evie's home in Livermore.
September 17, 1930 - January 02, 2022
Evelyn Pearl Gray was born on Agana (Hagåtña), Guam on September 17, 1930. She passed away peacefully with her five daughters at her side on January 2, 2022 in Livermore, California. Friends and family will always remember the sparkle and energy with which she embraced her life. She brought an ability to love unconditionally, care and do for those she loved without concern for herself, and gave wholeheartedly of her time, attention, and practical sense. As her father-in-law Mel, Sr., and husband Mel, Jr., said often, "Nothing is too much trouble for Evie."
Evie was preceded in death by her mother Emelia Long. At the age of 11 she lost her father, Benjamin F. Long, who gave his life on December 7, 1941, while serving on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. She is also preceded by her brothers Richard and Benjamin and her dear mother-in-law and father-in-law, Mary and Melvin Gray, Sr. She lost her cherished husband, Melvin M. Gray, Jr., in 2015. In 1979 Evie endured the sadness of losing her only son, Richard, at the age of 18.
She is survived by her five daughters, Terri (Paul), Susan (Mike), Jane, Lorraine, and Patricia (Jeff), as well as her sisters Betty Burkhart and Arlene O'Connor, and her brother Doug (Beverly). She was a beloved sister-in-law and is survived by Mel's brothers Robert (Sally), and Tom Gray. She will be thought of often and missed greatly by 10 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as innumerable nieces, nephews, and cousins whom she loved very much.
Evie's early childhood was spent on the island of Guam where her mother Emelia was born and raised until she met and married Evie's father, a Navy sailor. She was the second of six children and often shared memories of sailing back and forth between Guam and San Francisco until her family remained in San Francisco when she was 10 years of age.
After her family lost their father in 1941, they moved to San Leandro where she lived until she entered nurses training at Providence Hospital in Oakland in 1948. Upon obtaining her license as a Registered Nurse she signed up to join the Air Force as a flight nurse. Her life might have taken a different turn if she had not met her future husband, Mel, and decided to wait while he served his first months in the Marine Corps. They were engaged upon his return, married in 1953 and moved to Oceanside, California where Mel was stationed at Camp Pendleton. She worked as a nurse there and soon had the first of their six children.
Evie was a natural spear-header of the "working Mom" movement that began in the 1950's. She and Mel soon returned to the Bay Area where they both worked and together took shifts caring for their children, with Evie working night or evening shifts until all of their children were in school. She worked as a nurse at Hunt's Cannery in the early years of her career but her primary love and commitment went to surgical nursing. She worked for many years at Eden Hospital in Castro Valley in the Surgery Department as an operating room nurse. In the latter part of her career she worked, also as an operating room nurse, in a surgical center specializing in plastic surgery in the East Bay. During this time, she participated twice in volunteer medical missions to Hospital de la Familia in the jungles of Guatemala, as part of a team of doctors and nurses who provided much-needed medical treatment to the people of the area.
Wherever Evie worked or played she gathered friends. Although she always maintained that she was "not athletic," she was an avid tennis player in her middle years and after she retired, joined her husband in his love of golf. She walked around Lake Chabot in Castro Valley for years with her "walking ladies" and enjoyed weekend retreats with her "tennis friends." She was loved by many as a member of Blue Lake Springs Country Club during the 10 years that she and Mel lived in the mountains after their retirement and enjoyed her membership as a "Nine Holer" at Monterey Country Club when she and Mel moved to Palm Desert, where they lived together for another 12 years.
Evie returned to the Bay Area in 2018 and was a joy to her family and friends. She remained upbeat and ever fun and retained her magic as Grandma and Great-Grandma (GiGi) to her final days. We feel so fortunate to have had her in our lives. She will be missed beyond measure, but her influence and love will live on for generations to come.
Funeral Services and a Celebration of Life will be held on January 26th, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in St. Michael's Chapel at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 1051 Harder Rd., Hayward, California. A private burial will follow, with a reception to be held afterward at Evie's home in Livermore.
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