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Mary Catherine Bailey (Gray)
GREENSBORO—Mary Catherine Bailey Gray, 73, passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, June 16th, 2022.
Mary was born in Greensboro on February 16th, 1949 to the late William David Bailey and Gladys Smith Bailey of Gastonia. Mary graduated from Frank L. Ashley High School in 1967, then went on to attend Greensboro College where she majored in Biology as well as a minor in Chemistry. Mary also completed the School of Medical Technology at Forsyth Memorial Hospital where she not only found her passion for the medical field but also her husband Dr. John Henry Gray III. The couple were happily married for 37 years before John’s passing in 2011. During the early years of their marriage, they traveled the world. In 1982 Mary gave birth to their first daughter Amy, and then in 1985, Emily was born. Mary’s role as a mother was perhaps her most important. The family loved to travel, some of her most cherished places were her home on Yellow Mountain, and the Nine Quarter Circle Ranch in Montana. Mary was a regular attendee at Penland School of Craft, where she found a passion in metal smithing. She also took great pride and enjoyment in her home of 50 years and was an avid gardener. Her most recent years were shared with her partner Ronald Morgan, also of Winston-Salem. They enjoyed traveling and companionship, as well as the blending of each other's families. She will always be remembered by those who knew and loved her as thoughtful, devoted, passionate, independent, and a true Southern Lady.
Mary is survived by her beloved daughters; Amy Elizabeth Gray and son-in-law Steven David Brook of the Gold Coast, QLD Australia; Emily Anne Gray and son-in-law Nicholas Paul Zanowski of Todd NC; her lovely granddaughters Perry Catherine and Ellie Elizabeth Brook; wonderful sister Anne Bailey Murr of Greensboro NC; niece, Carole Murr Penta of San Francisco CA; and nephew, Robert David Murr of Matthews NC.
A funeral service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church in Winston Salem at 11 AM, Friday, July 1st. A private graveside service will be held at 11 AM Saturday at Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to Penland School of Craft, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy, and Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.
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Gary Sugg
I have been lucky enough to have known Mary Bailey Gray since the summer of 1956, when the Baileys and the Suggs moved into brand new, somewhat modest, houses right next door to each other on Carlton Drive, near the also brand new Grier School. She and I attended good old Grier from 2nd grade through the 9th. We could actually walk to school in about 10 minutes.
Though our family moved away from that neighborhood when she and I were 7th graders, our families remained great friends forever, and she and I have kept up over the years. Mary has led an exemplary life, and I am supremely saddened by her untimely death. I will miss her terribly. She leaves behind two magnificent young daughters, and a truly wonderful older sister, Anne Bailey Murr, also an Ashley graduate.