Gray

Eleanor Jane Gray, 84, of Chicora Road, Chicora, went home to be with the Lord at 7.55 a.m. Tuesday in the Chicora Medical Center.

She was born Sept. 1, 1924, in Bakerstown, Allegheny County, to the late Irving Grover Hoff and the late Ella Schroder Hoff.

During World War II, she worked as a crane operator for the American Bridge Co. in New Brighton.

She and her husband, the Rev. Roland M. Gray Jr., who she married Aug. 23, 1945, worked in the ministry in the Christian and Missionary Alliance churches in Canyon City, Colo.; in Shortsville, Shinglehouse, Fayette City, New Castle and Arbuckle, all in Pennsylvania; finally retiring in Franklin, Pa. They moved to and lived in Chicora in 1988.

Jane enjoyed playing the violin and piano. She was a soloist for many weddings, funerals and church functions. Being very much involved with the youth of the church, she was a junior youth leader for the Junior Youth Group.

Surviving are two daughters, Rhoda Neidrick and her husband, Robert, of Butler and Rebecca Sweet and her husband, Richard, of Youngstown, Ohio; two sons, retired Navy chaplain, Lt. Roland M. Gray III and his fiancee, Norma Braun, of Butler and Robert Hamilton Gray of Chicora; eight grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Paul Hoff of Los Angeles, Calif.

In addition to her husband, who died Nov. 2, 1993; she was preceded in death by a sister, Ruth Hoff; and a brother, Donald Hoff.

<B>GRAY </B>— Friends of Eleanor Jane Gray, who died Tuesday, March 17, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the <B>Steighner Funeral home</B>, 111 E. Slippery Rock and Main streets, Chicora. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, 310 E. Slippery Rock St., Chicora, with the Rev. Mark Wallace, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the building fund of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, p.o. Box 251, Chicora, PA 16025.For further information, directions and to offer condolences, go to www.steighnerfuneralhome.com.