Margaret “Jean” Gray

Obituary

Margaret Jean Bennett Gray was born on October 17, 1947, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was born to her birth parents Quentin and Elaine Aamot.   Jean’s birth parents both lived with illness and disability, so Jean lived with and was later adopted by her Grandparents Carlton and Maybel Bennett.  She graduated from Robbinsdale High School. Jean moved to Seattle, Washington after High School.

Jean met the love of her life Thomas Gray in Seattle.  Tom at the time was working in the United States, but was from Canada.  Shortly after meeting Tom, Jean returned to Minnesota.  Tom later tracked her down in Minnesota and they were united in marriage on July 5, 1968, three months after their first meeting in Seattle.    They started their life together in Robbinsdale and then built their home on Star Lake near Litchfield, Minnesota in 1976, where they raised their children, Michael and Catheryn.  Tom passed away September 18, 2006; together they shared 37 years of marriage.

Jean worked as a secretary/bookkeeper at Economy Mobile Homes before becoming a dispatcher/jailer for the Meeker County Sheriff’s Department.  She later began her life time career as a 911 Dispatcher/Communications Specialist at the Hutchinson Police Department, where she worked for 25 years.  Jean retired in 2007.

Jean loved to entertain, travel play games and go to the casino.  Jean belonged to a group of girlfriends that have been together for more than forty years and share a bond that many could only dream of, called “The Bee’s” and as we all know, Jean was the Queen Bee.  She also shared a special bond with her niece, Sharon and her Sister-In-Law, Maria.  Sharon and Jean spent countless hours together as children and that friendship and connection continued throughout their adulthood.  Her relationship with her Sister-In-Law, Maria, was equally remarkable, becoming even stronger after Tom passed away.   Jean’s life was filled with family and friends, parties and laughter.  She made friends easily and was blessed to have many friends whom she considered “family” who fulfilled her life.  Jean was happiest when her home was filled to capacity with family and friends. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Jean is survived by her:
Children, Michael Gray and his wife, Stacy, of Litchfield, MN,
                  Catheryn McShane and her husband, Dan, of San Antonio, TX;
                  Step-Son, Tom Gray and his wife, Vickie, of Langley, BC, Canada;
Grandchildren,   Sydney Gray of Seattle, WA,
                              Megan and Erin McShane of San Antonio, TX,
                              Tom (TJ) Gray of Langley, BC, Canada;
Sister, Colleen Peiper of Cottage Grove, MN;
Step-Son, Tom Gray and his wife, Vickie, of Langley, BC, Canada;
Sister-In-Law and cohort in crime, Maria Gray of Penticton, BC, Canada;
Sister-In-Law, Linda Aamot;
Niece and special friend, Sharon Leerssen of Nashville, TN;
Many other family and friends, especially “The Bees” of which Jean was the Queen.  

Jean is preceded in death by her best friend, soulmate and beloved Husband, Tom Gray; Infant Son; Birth Parents, Quentin and Elaine Aamot; Adoptive Grandparents, Carlton and Maybel Bennett; Brother, John Aamot; Sisters, Eileen Leerssen and Joan Kinter.