Carmen Petty Gray

Our sweet mom, Carmen Petty Gray, peacefully moved on to the next step in her life’s journey on January 2, 2024 at her home in North Ogden, Utah, with her loving family by her side. She was 91. She was born October 18, 1932 in Los Angeles, CA to Floyd and Emily Petty.

In 1953, while serving refreshments at the wedding reception of a friend in Ogden, she caught the eye of the groom’s brother, Jimmie Gray, and there was an instant connection. But Dad was still serving in the Air Force at the time, so Mom had to wait for him for a little over a year to come back home. They fell in love and on August 15, 1955, were sealed together in the Salt Lake Temple for time and all eternity. Mom and dad enjoyed 55 beautiful years together until dad passed away just over 14 years ago. Mom has missed him every day since then, something she made known to her children pretty much every day. It was surely a glorious reunion!

If Mom had a favorite place on Earth, it was the Four Family Acre family cabin in Island Park, Idaho where she loved spending time with her family. Many, many hours were spent there each summer playing games, especially Tripoly, eating great food, visiting with one another, and just making memories together. Everyone in the family loves the cabin ­ for Mom it was heaven on Earth!

Mom was always passionate about learning and education, something she encouraged and passed along to her kids. She attended Mound Fort Elementary, North Ogden Junior High, where she was a cheerleader, and Weber High School, where her dad was a teacher. She attended Weber State College, Brigham Young University, and in 1954 she graduated from Utah State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She went on to teach school at Dee Elementary and Horace Mann Elementary in Ogden. She became pregnant with her first child while teaching second grade at Horace Mann and stayed on right up until one week before giving birth. The principal said that was very unusual, but they loved her so much they didn’t want her to leave, so they allowed her to stay until pretty-much the last minute. After her second and third children were born, she decided to start the very first pre-school in North Ogden in her home, where she taught many children for many years. She loved teaching pre-school, but her number one priority was always her family, and her children knew it. Carmen Gray was the quintessential definition of “mother”.

Mom was an avid reader. She loved books and magazines of all kinds and rarely missed a night reading the local newspaper. She loved good literature, the arts, musicals, and opera. She was active in many clubs and organizations and loved her association with her many friends. In addition to many literary and dinner clubs, she was especially devoted to the Daughters of Utah Pioneers (DUP), where she often enthusiastically taught the monthly lesson.

Mom came from strong Mormon pioneer stock and was passionate and proud of her family history. She loved collecting photos and stories about every one of her ancestors. You couldn’t visit her home without her telling you one of her favorite stories about one of her pioneer ancestors.

Mom was a lifelong, devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served faithfully in many callings. Her unwavering faith in our Savior Jesus Christ guided her throughout her life and shaped the wife, mother, grandmother and friend she was. Anyone who knew her would agree that she truly followed the admonition of our Savior to love one another. She didn’t have a mean bone in her body.

Mom, we will all miss you very much, and although you left us with a huge void, the atonement fills us with faith and hope for the day when we will embrace again, with joy, as an eternal family.

She is survived by her six children, Brent Gray (Trish), Steve Gray (JeriAnn), Dave Gray (Patty), Julie Woods (Whitt), Sue Reeder (Dale), and Mike Gray (Amy). She is also survived by her sister DeeAnn Talbot (Bob), 19 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Floyd and Emily Petty, husband Jim Gray, sister Lucille Chamberlin, and two beloved grandchildren, Greg Gray and Jaycee Gray Trivino.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 13th at 11:00 AM, with a viewing beginning at 9:00 AM. Both will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 205 E Elberta Dr, North Ogden, UT 84414. Interment will follow at the Ben Lomond Cemetery, 526 E 2850 N, North Ogden, UT 84414.

Our family would like to extend special thanks and gratitude to Casandra Ramirez, Ethelyn Bradshaw, and Melissa Profaizer who were Mom’s loving and kind caregivers over the past several months. We also thank Myers Mortuary for their kind and thoughtful assistance.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com