As she was surrounded by family, Verla “Gay” Gray, 96, went to be with the Lord on Aug. 15, 2026. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 22, at 10:00 a.m. at Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City, 4125 Orleans Avenue, with a visitation 1 hour prior to service time. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City is assisting the family with arrangements.

She was known as Gay to all her family and friends and was born to Dean and Marjory (Donnell) Green on July 23, 1930, in Ponca, NE. Gay was a proud 1948 graduate of Central High School. In 1950, Gay married Harold E. Gray. Five children were born to this marriage between 1951 and 1968. For the majority of her life, Gay was a wonderful wife, mother, and homemaker. Her life took her to many places called home, such as Norwalk, CA, Salina, KS, Hinton, IA, and Sioux City, IA, to name a few.

Gay enjoyed spending time with family, gardening, sewing, and was an avid reader. She also enjoyed collecting glassware, especially bells. Gay was a long-time member of Glendale Baptist Church of Sioux City. She did have some part-time jobs that she was known for and really enjoyed. Hundreds of former students will remember her as Mrs. Gray, the lunch lady, but her favorite job was as a sales associate for The Paris dress shop in Salina, KS.

Gay is survived by three of her children, Andrea Cale of Sioux City, IA, Martin (D’Ambra) Gray of Topeka, KS, and Genelle Gray of Kansas City, MO; twelve grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and beloved nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her husband of 44 years, Harold E. Gray; two sons, Robert J. Gray and Garrett D. Gray; a daughter-in-law, Cynthia (Andrews) Gray; son-in-law, Larry Cale; both of her parents; and both of her siblings.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the family to be dispersed at their discretion.