Mary Barbara Gray

Mary Barbara Gray, born Mary Barbara Hiftline on December 8, 1946, in Adrian, Michigan, to Henry and Lillian Hiftline, passed away on March 11, 2026, after a courageous battle with leukemia. Baptized as a child of God at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Adrian and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Morenci, Michigan, Mary lived a life deeply rooted in faith and service.

After graduating from Sand Creek High School in 1965, Mary pursued studies at the University of Michigan before following God’s leading to Milwaukee Lutheran Teachers College and Dr. Martin Luther College, from which she graduated in 1970. She taught at Zion Evangelical Lutheran School in Clatonia, Nebraska, and later at Grace Evangelical Lutheran School in Yakima, Washington. It was in Yakima that she met Gary Gray. They married on June 14, 1975, and together raised three children: Timothy, Sarah, and Joseph. Mary devoted herself to creating a Christ-centered home, teaching her children the importance of faith while serving as a homemaker during much of their early years.

Mary’s love for Christian education continued as she later taught at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran School in Bellevue, Washington, and Grace Evangelical Lutheran School in Portland, Oregon. She found great joy in sewing, creating clothes for her children and grandchildren, including wedding dresses for herself, her sister Nancy, and her daughter Sarah. In retirement, she and Gary traveled extensively across the United States and Canada, first with a travel trailer and later in a motorhome, visiting national parks and cherishing time with their grandchildren, whom she lovingly called her “grand-blessings.” In June 2025, they celebrated fifty years of marriage with a special trip to Alaska.

Mary is survived by her husband Gary; her children Timothy (Lisa) Gray of West Salem, Wisconsin, Sarah (Jason) Gomulkiewicz of Menasha, Wisconsin, and Joseph (Sarah) Gray of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; her sister Nancy Kelly of Jasper, Michigan; her brother-in-law Dennis Gray of Mukilteo, Washington; nine grandchildren; and her niece and nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Robert, her in-laws Dale and Hedy Gray, and her brother-in-law Terry Kelly.