Dates
Our beautiful Mother was known for her flamboyant style, hard work ethic, yummy down-home cooking with the occasional exotic dish, and living life to the fullest. She was always ready to experience new adventures with family and friends, enjoying the journey there as well as the visit!
Reba O'liene Gray, 81 years of age, residing for the last five years in Michigan, quietly and peacefully passed on for all eternity into the arms of her Saviour, Jesus Christ, and the presence of God Almighty. She suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, which not only took her mind many years ago, but eventually her body, as well, on February 20, 2024, at 3:35 AM.
Reba was born in San Angelo, on June 16, 1942, to Owen and Jimmie Gray, who owned West Texas Trailer Company. She attended Santa Rita Elementary, Robert Lee Junior High and graduated from San Angelo Central High School. She always recounted adventures she had with her best friends, LaRue, Sylvia, and Jackie.
Reba went on to get her bachelor's degree at Baylor University, and her master's degree from Angelo State University, years later. Reba loved being a teacher and a tutor. Her favorite was teaching middle school students, especially 7th graders. She often said they still had a curiosity for learning and were fun to teach. Reba often taught math, computer science, English, and science. As an English teacher, she loved teaching through plays, books, and movies and often took her students on field trips. She enjoyed being involved in the local civic theatre wherever she lived. A few of her favorite sayings were, "ain't, ain't a word", and "can't never could".
Reba was never one to sit still for long. Besides working full-time jobs, over the years, she would sell Avon, Mary Kay, Tupperware, and Amway. She was always cooking something to take to a church gathering or someone needing a meal. For many family Thanksgiving dinners, she would bring someone who didn't have a place to go. Whenever anyone needed a helping hand, she was there to pitch in, whether it be gardening, moving or cleaning, she never shied away from hard work.
Ever active, Reba enjoyed sports and being outdoors. She was a competitive skeet shooter, played volleyball and was on the swim team in high school and college, going hunting and fishing with family and friends. While attending Baylor University in Waco, she was a Baylor Beauty and placed first runner up in the Miss Waco Pageant. She loved gardening, and quilting and was an accomplished seamstress. She loved camping and was fascinated by all of nature, especially its beauty.
Reba loved any kind of music, loved to dance, and had a beautiful soprano voice, singing in the choir through school and college and in church choirs, all of her life. She grew up attending the First Baptist Church of San Angelo, and made a profession of faith, following with water baptism, when she was still in elementary school. Reba loved reading her Bible and had several that she studied and read from, over the years. She considered herself a perpetual student of God's teachings and enjoyed participating in many Bible study groups, from a variety of church groups, as well as listening to preachers over the radio and TV.
Reba loved her family and always kept in touch with them all over the country, writing cards, calling on the phone, and visiting them. She doted on her grandchildren and visited them every chance she could. She made them blankets, quilts, and had fun swimming and playing with them. Reba has two daughters, Lisa (Moore) Dams and Charlene (Carnes) Phillips, along with four grandchildren, Martin Dams, Stuart Dams, Stormie Phillips, and Charlie Phillips.
Reba was preceded in death by her mother and father, and her older brother, Richard L. Gray, along with many cousins, aunts, and uncles. She is survived by her sisters, Freda Connell of Spring, Texas, Janette Aldridge of San Angelo, and a brother, Owen Gray of San Angel, along with nieces, nephews, and cousins.
The funeral service will be 1:00 PM Saturday, March 2, 2024, at Robert Massie Riverside Chapel in San Angelo. Graveside farewell will follow at Lawnhaven Cemetery under the direction of Robert Massie Funeral Home.
Please make donations to your local Salvation Army.