Joan Louise Knudsen Gray Obituary (1932

Mrs. Joan Louise Gray, age 90 of Madison, Indiana, entered this life on June 10, 1932 in Chicago, Illinois to John and Loretta Clemmensen Knudsen. The third child of Danish immigrants, Joan valued her parents' determination and dedication to family and always strived to follow their example. She graduated from Chicago High School - Austin in 1950 and worked for Sears, Roebuck and Co. in Chicago until moving to Covington, Tennessee after her marriage to Newton McBride "Mutt" Gray on July 20, 1956. There, the couple raised their two sons, became active members of the Covington Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and together operated their family business, Mutt's Farm Equipment, until 1980. In later years, Joan was employed at Millington Naval Air Station, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Carl Perkins Center in both Covington and Jackson, Tennessee. She continued active church service, particularly through women's circles and church libraries for many decades, both in Tipton County and Jackson, Tennessee. In 1994 she researched, wrote, illustrated, and published a book detailing the symbols found on the stained glass windows of Salem Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Atoka. Another labor of love and faith was her work to record transcriptions from headstones at the Salem ARP Cemetery. In both her volunteer work and employment, Joan was a skilled organizer of everything from files to fundraising telethons. Joan also enjoyed studying scripture, sewing, doing needlework, painting, participating in artistic endeavors, solving puzzles, and spending time with her grandchildren. She leaves behind a legacy of generosity and service. Joan passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. at River Terrace Health Campus in Madison, Indiana. A LOVING FAMILY Joan will be missed by her loving two sons, Jeffrey Gray and his wife, Terilyn of Jackson, Tennessee, and John Gray and his wife, Lisa of Madison, Indiana; three granddaughters, Megan Travis and her husband, Joseph of Jackson, Tennessee, Kathryn Plucis and her husband, Rob of Glendale, Kentucky, and Shelby Singh and her husband, Zoravar of Fullerton, California; her grandson, Hunter Gray of Jackson, Tennessee; her three great-grandchildren, Helen and Henning Travis, and Julia Plucis; her sister-in-law, Louella Knudsen; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, John Knudsen; her mother, Loretta Knudsen; her husband, Newton McBride Gray; her brother, John Knudsen; her sister, Mary Mackay; her brothers- and sisters-in-laws Hank Mackay, Claude and Mable Gray, Ernest and Essie Lee Gray, Tommy and Dude Gray, Bruce and Mary Theta Gray, Hill and Roberta Gray, Sue and Glen "Cherry" Mills, and Glen and Feltress Gray. FUNERAL CEREMONY A private graveside service will be conducted at the Salem ARP Cemetery in Atoka, Tennessee. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to the Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover. Online condolences, remembrances and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com. Place An Online Memorial To send a flower arrangement in memory of Joan Louise Knudsen Gray, please click here to visit our sympathy store.