Rena Patrick Gray, age 97 of Lawrenceville and long-time resident of Bridgeport, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, June 11, 2021. She was born February 15, 1924 in Thornton, Scotland to William and Margaret (Forrest) Patrick.
On September 23, 1941, Rena married Jack C. Gray in Bridgeport. Jack preceded Rena in death on September 1, 2010. Jack and Rena were quite the pair. You rarely saw one without the other. They built a blessed and beautiful life together throughout the nearly 69 years of marriage.
Rena was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and volunteer. She was a very active member of the First Christian Church of Bridgeport. Rena was the head cook at Bridgeport Township High School for 25 years and loved to cook at home as well. Once she retired from the school, she began finding new interests and rekindling old interests. She and Jack delivered meals and volunteered for Bridgeport Senior Citizens for 20 years. She also took up quilting and volunteered at the Lawrence County Memorial Auxiliary, and Hospice of Southeastern Illinois.
Surviving relatives include: four children- Pat Dutton and husband Larry of Lawrenceville, Pam Folmnsbee and husband Curtis of Bethalto, Kim O’Grady and husband Mike of Wadesville, IN, and Brent Gray and wife Donita of Nashville, TN: 13 grandchildren: 29 great-grandchildren with one more on the way: and 10 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Margaret Patrick, and her husband, Jack C. Gray, and her three siblings, Emma Jane Brown, James Patrick, and Billy Patrick.
A funeral service for Rena Patrick Gray will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2021 at the First Christian Church of Bridgeport. A private family burial will follow. Visitation will be held Friday evening at the Cunningham Funeral Home in Bridgeport from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm.
Memorial contributions can be made to the First Christian Church or Southeastern Illinois Hospice directly or through the funeral home. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.cunninghamfuneralhomes.com.