Paula Yvonne Gray was born on November 23, 1940, in the Woodson Chapel neighborhood of what is now the Land Between the Lakes. She married J.R. Gray on December 27th, 1956.
Yvonne and J.R. moved to Hammond, Indiana where their two children Randy and Teresa were born. They moved back to western Kentucky in 1963, built their lifetime home, where she worked along with J.R. as the Secretary of the International Association Machinist Union, District Lodge 154.
Yvonne served twenty years secretary until she and J.R. both retired, following J.R’s run for the Sixth District Kentucky House of Representatives in 1975. Partners in all of their endeavors, Yvonne was J.R.’s right and left hand, always assisting him with his legislative correspondence, and ensuring the consistent communication with his constituents.
As with their working life endeavors, so were their retirement years. J.R passed away on May 11th, 2022, and on November 10, 2023, Yvonne joined J.R. where they are side by side once more and again.
Yvonne is preceded in death by her husband J.R.; her parents Reese and Juanita Murray; and survived by her two children, Randy (Trish) Gray and Teresa Gray; three grandchildren Keegan Mize, Natasha Mize, and Nikala Mize; three great-grandchildren, Nyomi, Elijah, and Adalee; three sisters, Patty (Bob) Galloway, Sharon (Eddie) Choate, Judy (Steve) Moore, and one brother, Don (Rita) Murray.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00PM on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Collier Funeral Home with Rev. Joe D. Thorn officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery, Benton, Kentucky.
A visitation will be held from 10:00AM until 1:00PM on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Collier Funeral Home, 211 W 5th Street, Benton. Kentucky.