Mary Barbara Gray was called home to her Savior's side in Heaven on March 11, 2026, after battling leukemia.

Mary Barbara Gray (nee Hiftline) was born on December 8, 1946, in Adrian, Michigan to Henry and Lillian (nee Porter) Hiftline. She was made a dear child of God through the waters of Holy Baptism on April 13, 1947, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Adrian, Michigan. Mary publicly professed her faith on April 15, 1962, at her confirmation at Trinity Lutheran Church in Morenci, Michigan.

Upon graduating from Sand Creek High School in Sand Creek, Michigan in 1965, Mary enrolled at the University of Michigan to pursue a degree in physical therapy. During her freshman year at the University of Michigan, she learned physical therapy was not the vocation for her. Instead, she wanted to see what God had in mind for her by enrolling at Milwaukee Lutheran Teachers College (MLTC) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and eventually at Dr. Martin Luther College (DMLC) in New Ulm, MN. Mary graduated from DMLC in 1970.

Mary was assigned to teach at Zion Evangelical Lutheran School in Clatonia, Nebraska. There she had the privilege of feeding Jesus' lambs a steady diet of God's Word along with all of the other subjects taught in elementary school. In 1973, Mary received a divine call to teach at Grace Evangelical Lutheran School in Yakima, Washington. She was led by the Holy Spirit to accept the call to feed Christ's lambs at Grace in Yakima.

Moving to Yakima was part of God's plan to provide Mary with a God-fearing husband. Not long after moving to Yakima, unbeknownst to her, Mary met her future in-laws, Dale and Hedy Gray. The Grays mentioned they have two boys they would like for her to meet. When she met the Gray's oldest son, Gary, the rest, as they say, is history. Gary and Mary Gray became husband and wife on June 14, 1975. To this blessed union, God blessed them with three children: Timothy, Sarah, and Joseph.

Mary and Gary shared a passion for Christian education. They were determined to bring their children up in the training and instruction of the Lord. They brought them to church every Sunday at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bellevue, Washington, and also enrolled their kids in Sunday School and sent them to the Lutheran Elementary School at Calvary. During the majority of her children's elementary school years, Mary was a homemaker so her children could have the full benefit of growing up in a Christ-centered home. Mary and Gary worked hard to make sure their children received a solid Christian education through their high school years at Evergreen Lutheran High School.

God was not done using Mary to feed his lambs while her kids were in high school and college. Mary was called to teach at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran School in Bellevue, and Grace Evangelical Lutheran School in Portland, Oregon after Mary and Gary moved to Vancouver, Washington.

Mary's favorite lifelong pastime was sewing. She loved making clothes for her children and grandchildren. She sewed wedding dresses and bridesmaids' dresses for her wedding, for her sister Nancy's wedding, and for her daughter Sarah's wedding. For many years, Gary didn't own a pair of store-bought pants. Mary sewed him pants whenever he needed a new pair. It wasn't uncommon for her kids to hear the sound of the sewing machine at 2:00 am. Mary would often sew when she couldn't sleep. It relaxed her.

In retirement, Mary and Gary drove all over the United States and Canada with their travel trailer before upgrading to a motorhome in 2021. They enjoyed seeing the beauty of God's creation on their own timetable, visiting many national parks throughout the US. They loved visiting their grand-blessings (Mary's term for their grandchildren). Mary and Gary took one final vacation to celebrate the blessing of fifty years of marriage in June, 2025 by going on a cruise and land tour to Alaska. They marveled at the beauty of God's creation while giving thanks to God for fifty years of His grace as husband and wife.

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, and her brother-in-law, Dennis Gray of Mukilteo, Washington; grand-blessings Christiana Gray, Hunter Gomulkiewicz,  Micah Gray (fiancé Madelyn Fischer), Curtis Gray, Megan Gomulkiewicz, Terryn Gray, Luke Gray, Henry Gomulkiewicz, and Hollyn Gray; niece Anne Kelly of Scottsdale, Arizona and nephew Aaron (Angala) Kelly of Gilbert, Arizona.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Lillian Hiftline, her brother Robert (Bob); her in-laws Dale and Hedy Gray, and brother-in-law Terry Kelly along with her aunts and uncles.

A celebration of Mary's life will take place at 11 am on Tuesday, March 24, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 829 Appleton Road, Menasha.  Friends may visit at the church on Tuesday from 10 am until the time of service.

The Gray family extends their gratitude to the healthcare professionals at Ascension St. Elizabeth's Hospital and Cancer Center, Mosaic Family Health, and Compassus Hospice for the compassionate care Mary received from them.

Surely God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid.

The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation. – Isaiah 12:2 (NIV)

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Mary Gray to Martin Luther College, or to the American Cancer Society (electronically or by mail).

Martin Luther College

Electronically:
https://mlc-wels.edu/donate-form/

By Mail:
Martin Luther College
1995 Luther Court
New Ulm, MN 56073

American Cancer Society

Electronically:
https://donate.cancer.org/

By Mail:
American Cancer Society
PO Box 6704
Hagerstown, MD 21741