Gray

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Donna M. Gray, of Butler, passed away on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024, while under the care of Good Samaritan Hospice in Wexford.

Born Dec. 8, 1929, in Evans City, she was the daughter of the late Lieben and Vera (Powell) Eppinger. Donna worked at Shanks in Evans City until she met the love of her life, Ronald G. Gray. Their first date was a round of golf in which she beat Ronald’s score. They were married on Friday, May 13, 1955, and were able to celebrate their 69th wedding anniversary together in heaven.

Donna was a lifelong and faithful member of Connoquenessing United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the United Methodist Women.

Donna loved sitting outside on her patio enjoying the sounds of nature, especially listening to bird songs. She always had her bird book next to her chair to identify any new birds she spotted. Donna loved to travel and visited nearly all of the continental United States. She had countless adventures traveling in an RV or with a truck and camper. On one adventure through Alaska, Canada and the Western United States, they befriended a large group of travel/camping companions who became lifelong friends. She particularly loved fishing and camping at Pymatuning Lake with her family.

She enjoyed spending time with her card club friends and beating her kids and grandkids playing hearts and dominos. She enjoyed trains of all sizes and needlepoint on plastic canvas. She was an avid fan of all the Pittsburgh sports teams, especially the Pittsburgh Pirates. She enjoyed reading books on her iPad, which she always kept handy in case she had to look up answers to random questions that her family asked.

She had an endless and witty sense of humor that she passed to her family. She always had a positive and loving outlook on life, living by the mantra of, “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” She was a loving wife, adored mother, and cherished grandmother and great-grandmother. Donna and Ronald loved the opportunity to watch over their grandkids and granddoggy, Molly.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ronald Gray; infant son; and brothers, Cecil Eppinger and Robert Eppinger.

She leaves behind to treasure her memory her three children, Kevin (Terre) Gray of Butler, Cheryl (David) Sanderson of Meridian and Terri (Bradley) Graham of Greencastle; her six grandchildren, Jordan (Kati) Gray of Butler, Valerie (Matthew) Harbison of Connoquenessing, Lauren (Gerald) Hackett of Mechanicsville, Va., Emily Graham of Greencastle, Joshua (Tyler) Sanderson of Meridian and Noah (Mackenzie) of Greencastle; her seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

GRAY — A gathering of family and friends for Donna M. Gray, who passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2024, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at BOYLAN FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER OF CONNOQUENESSING TOWNSHIP, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew, with a service immediately following. She will be laid to rest at Butler County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made online in honor of Donna’s great-granddaughter, Kendall, to the Rett Syndrome Foundation at www.reverserett.org/donate.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.