Monica Gray

Monica Gray, 83, died at home on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. A 46 year resident of Chatham Township, Monica was born in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. She graduated from North Union High School. She married and relocated to Cleveland in 1958 and 20 years later moved with husband and children to Medina County. Monica was exceptionally talented and hard working. She enjoyed making, growing, cooking and creating beautiful things. She was a talented art student in high school. She trained in couture design at Virginia Marti School of Fashion Design in Lakewood, where after graduation she taught classes in tailoring and patternmaking for more than a decade. She also was involved in founding and operating two boutique clothing design businesses in Medina County and has sewed and altered bridal gowns for many area brides. She enjoyed canning vegetables from her large garden and kept chickens, selling their eggs. Over the years, Monica held varied occupations and interests. She had been a school bus driver for Cloverleaf LSD and a bookmobile driver for Medina County District Library as well as a branch library clerk. She was a former member of Medina County Mounted Unit horse patrol and a judge at the Medina County Fair, judging 4H sewing entries. Monica attended Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Litchfield. A lifelong learner and teacher, Monica volunteered as a budget counselor, had trained in advertising art and had even taken a sheep shearing class. She was formerly a Camp Fire Girls group leader and a 'SAMY' Saturday Morning Youth leader. Monica had a big heart for animals, often donating to animal charities and taking in strays. Her greatest loves though, were her horses, dogs, cats and chickens, from which she derived so much joy. Monica was preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Herbert Gray, Jr. and her grandson, Jeffrey Gray. She is survived by a son, Colin Gray (Janette) of Medina; daughters, Karen Gray of Copley and Colleen Gray (Stan Shaw) of Tacoma, Washington; grandchildren, Keith Gray (Eden) and Carmen Gray and great-grandchildren, Gavin and Araylius Gray. Friends are invited to stop by during a visitation memorial and celebration of Monica's life to be held at Parker Funeral Home, 210 Medina St., Lodi on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m. A private inurnment will be at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please donate in Monica's name to Medina County SPCA or your preferred animal charity. Online condolences may be shared at www.parkerfuneralhomes.com