Obituary of Mable S. Gray

WINTER HAVEN - Mable Lucille Shaw Gray, 86, of Winter Haven died of respiratory failure and went to be with the Lord on April 18, 2014, She was born in Guin, Alabama on November 13, 1927. She was the firstborn of parents, Flem Hollis Shaw and Essie Berryhill Shaw. She graduated from Tift County High School in 1947 and started her career as a Southern Bell telephone operator the same year. On August 31, 1968, Mable married William "Bill" Burton Gray, Jr. They moved to Haines City, Florida. Mable and Bill loved to travel and visited Mexico, Switzerland, England, France, Belgium, Holland, Italy, Bahamas and Aruba, as well as many locations in the states. One of their favorite destinations was Las Vegas and they spent most of their anniversaries there. Having grown up as a farmer's daughter, Mable never lost her love of the soil and loved to work in her garden on Paradise Island. She could grow almost anything and her flowers were spectacular. She was an active member in her local Garden Club. She was interested in creating beauty, whether through fashion, interior design or gardening. Mable never left her home without looking her very best. She loved to shop and always had the latest fashions. She was a wonderful cook and was eager to try the latest recipes, as well as the good Georgia southern foods she had grown up with. Mable was predeceased by her parents, 2 brothers, Leon and Roland Shaw and 2 sisters, Edith Shaw Marchant and Faye Shaw Tolbert. She is survived by her husband of almost 46 years, Bill Gray; son, Mike Smith; daughter, Tammas (Gilbert) Smith; sister, Adele (James) Pitts and many nieces and nephews. She will be missed by all. Services will be held at Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City, FL on Monday, April 21, 2014. Visitation will be at 1PM with the Funeral Service to follow at 2pm. Condolences may be sent to oakridgefuneralcare.com.