Mary E Gray

Mary Edith McFerran was born in Denver to Bernice O. (Pulley) McFerran and William T McFerran. Also born, minutes later, was her identical twin Margaret Elizabeth. She was very proud of being a twin. As some twins do, she and Margaret would switch places on occasion to fool other classmates and teachers. As told by Margaret, these ventures were not always without consequence. Helen Louise, their younger sister by four years, was adored by both. Mary attended Denver’s North High School until 1951. In 1952, while on a blind date, she met the love of her life (Harold) Lynn Gray. After a very brief courtship, they eloped to Raton, New Mexico and were married in May 1952. They were married until Lynn’s death in February 2017. They had two children.
At the beginning of their marriage, as the story goes, Mary couldn’t boil water. With the help of her mother-in-law, Evelyn Gray, she obtained some instruction and recipes of Lynn’s favorite foods. She became very proficient and was well known for her excellent culinary skills. During the late 1950’s or early 1960’s, she and her sister Helen were a part of the Beth Eden Baptist Church choir. During this time period, making Christmas cookies and candy, with the occasional group efforts of her sisters, and a “helpful” child or two assisting in decorating and “taste testing,” added to the preparation for Christmas festivities.
Sewing was also a love of hers. She, eventually, began working for a company making piecework draperies at home. After gaining experience, she decided to turn this into her own home business making custom draperies. This was expanded a few years later to include machine embroidery. Outside of sewing for pleasure and profit, she enjoyed playing golf with ladies’ groups with the occasional tournament competition.
After Lynn’s retirement in 1985, they moved to Green Valley, Arizona; then moving a few years later, to Farmington, New Mexico. Four years after that, they decided to relocate again and moved to the small town of Cedaredge, Colorado.
Some remember her in later years for her most frequent response when asked how she was doing, “not too bad for an old bat” or “growing old isn’t for sissies” (a phrase learned from a friend.)
Mary was predeceased by her parents, son Robert (Bob), husband Lynn, and sister Helen Zeller. She is survived by her sister Margaret Snyder; daughter Teri; four grandchildren, Jolie Hiestand, Alana Gray, Blake Gray and Carter Gray; two great grandchildren Ada Hiestand and Abel Hiestand; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.