Frances Gray

Frances Faye (Rice) Gray, a lifelong Payne County resident and first grandchild of the original Pistol Pete, passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 in her home in Perkins at the age of 98 years.

Graveside services have been entrusted to the care of the Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Perkins and will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, April 19, 2014 in the Perkins Cemetery, Perkins, OK with Pastor Ralph Yost officiating. Visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, April 18, 2014 in the Palmer Marler Funeral Home in Perkins.

The daughter of the late Lewis C. Rice and Faye Etta (Eaton) Rice, Frances was born on March 29, 1916 in Perkins, OK. She attended Perkins schools where she loved to play basketball.

Frances was united in marriage to Cecil A. Gray on April 21, 1934 in Stillwater, OK. The couple made their first home on a farm near Mulhall before moving to Perkins in 1945. Many will remember Frances from her time that she spent cooking at local cafs, hanging wall paper, and working at Ralphs Packing Company before retiring after 20 years of service. She also helped gauge the Cimarron River in her younger years.

Frances was a charter member of the Immanuel Baptist Church and in her spare time she loved to read, work jigsaw puzzles, and garden. Her passion was watching her family members play in their various sporting events, making quilts for her children and grandchildren, and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her four children, Betty Youngker and her husband Billy of Tryon, OK, Charlie Gray and his wife Judy of Stillwater, Lewis Gray and his wife Alma of Mulvane, KS, and Patty Evans of Perkins, OK; 12 grandchildren, Randal Youngker of Meeker, OK, Janet Youngker of Houston, TX, Garry Youngker and his wife Brenda of Yukon, OK, Sheryl Lyon and her husband Terry of Morrison, OK, Nancy Trompler and her husband Steve of Stillwater, Chris Redus of Mulvane, KS, Robert Gray of Mulvane, KS, Lewis Gray and his wife Melinda of Mulvane, KS, Matt Sharp and his wife Marcy of Perkins, Rachel Harbison of Coyle, OK, Joshua Evans and his wife Andrea of Perkins, and Elizabeth Kosjer and her husband Nick of Udall, KS; 19 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; her loving companion dog, Jake; and other relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, Frances was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Cecil Gray, on September 29, 1996; two grandchildren, Max Redus and Wayne Gray; and two infant sisters.

Condolences and online guestbook are available at www.PMCFH.com.