TEWKSBURY: Hazel C. (Ekern) Gray, age 80, a resident of Tewksbury for the past 59 years, died Friday, January 7, 2005 at the Lowell General Hospital. She was the wife of the late Roland H. Gray, who died December 19, 2001.
Born in Watertown, South Dakota on February 3, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Oscar and Irene (Olson) Ekern.
Mrs. Gray attended Brant, South Dakota schools and was graduated from Brant High School in 1942. She later attended the former Bradshaw Business School of Lowell.
Mrs. Gray was a resident of Tewksbury since 1945 and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Tewksbury.
She was a member of several church organizations including the Ladies Aid Group, the “20 Uppers Club” and also volunteered her time as a financial bookkeeper for the church.
Prior to her retirement, she was employed as an office manager by the Wang Laboratories Company of Lowell. Mrs. Gray previously worked in the same capacity for the former Valentine Florist of Andover.
She enjoyed gardening and reading.
She is survived by 1 daughter; Joanne McGlaughlin and her husband Jim of Tewksbury; 2 sons; James D. Gray and his wife Mauri (Wirtanen)of Tewksbury and Stepehn H. Gray and his wife Carol (Hines) of Palm Harbor,FL; 6 grandchildren; Joshua, Jamie and Jason McGlaughlin all of Tewksbury, Maren and Alexandra Gray both of Tewksbury and Cathryn Gray of Indiana; 4 sisters; Lavonne Rhyne and her husband Duane of Clear Lake, SD, Marlys lenning and her husband Stanley of Sioux Falls, SD, Glenda taylor and her husband Steve of Minnesota and Gloria Dessler and her husband Leroy of Gary, SD; 2 brothers; James Ekern and his wife Maxine (Hendrickson) of Sanford, FL and Curtis Ekern of Big Stone, SD; also many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Gray was the sister of the late Carolyn Lunde, Donna, David and Orland Ekern.
Calling hours Sunday from 1-3 p.m. at the FARMER & DEE FUNERAL HOME, 16 LEE ST., TEWKSBURY. Funeral services Monday at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 1500 Andover St., Rte. 133, Tewksbury. Interment services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the First Baptist Church, c/o Bertha Flanagan Scholarship Fund, 1500 Andover St., Tewksbury, MA 01876 are requested.