James Gray

JAMES GRAY

Mechanicsville

James Gray, 91, of Lisbon, formerly of Mechanicsville, died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2015, at the Joan and Ed Hemphill Hospice Unit in St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids, following a brief illness. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at Goettsch Funeral Home, Anamosa. Interment: Lisbon Cemetery, Lisbon. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Barb Kruger will officiate at the services.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com.

Surviving are two children, Verlyn (Gerald) Stolte, Anamosa, and Roger (Rita Knutsen) Gray, Swisher; a son-in-law, John Krob, Mount Vernon; 11 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lorena, in April 2014; a daughter, Virginia Krob, in August 2013; his great-grandson, Dedrick Gray; a sister, Mary Woods; two infant brothers; and four adult brothers, Ivan, Russell, Arthur and Robert.

James Edward Gray was born June 3, 1924, in Jones County, Iowa, near Amber, the son of James and Clara Mae Boots Gray. Jim received his education in the Morley area schools.

He stared working, driving a grain truck for Dave and Charley Gray for several years. James Gray married Lorena Dorcas on Aug. 20, 1941, in Kahoka, Mo. The couple farmed near Mechanicsville until 1985, when they moved into town. James was a Jacques seed corn dealer for many years in the area. He also drove the special needs and activity bus for the North Cedar and Mount Vernon school districts.

In retirement, Jim and Lorena traveled, taking several cruises and bus trips, and they loved to dance as well. He was an avid coon hunter in his younger years, and also enjoyed playing cards and collecting pocket watches.