Gretchen Ray
Jan. 15, 1927 - March 6, 2017
Resident of San Jose
Gretchen was born on the family farm just outside of Percival, Iowa, to the late Merton K. and Ida L. Snyder, the fourth of seven children. She graduated early from Sidney High School in Iowa and relocated across the Missouri River to Nebraska City, NE., where she began her work career as a secretary/clerk typist. It was in Nebraska City that she met her future husband, Jess Ray. They were married in Falls City, NE., on June 12th, 1945, and were married for over 71 years until his passing on January 15th of this year.
Over the next 20 years, Gretchen and Jess had five children, moving frequently from one small town to another in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas seeking better opportunities to support the family. In 1964, Jess accepted a company transfer to the Bay Area with the family eventually settling in San Jose in June 1965. Gretchen worked various administrative jobs while having her sixth child until she accepted a position at the San Jose Mercury News in January of 1969. She absolutely loved working for the Merc and spent over 25 happy years there until retiring in February of 1994.
Gretchen's passion was the love for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was also extremely fond of her cats and had quite a collection of crossword puzzle books.
Preceded in death by her husband, Jess Ray, and her daughter, Colleen (Coke) Ray-Nichols, Gretchen is survived by her son Mike Ray (Emily), daughter Susan Miranda (Richie), daughter Robin Ray (Debora), sons Jeff Ray and Randy Ray, grandchildren Adam Ray (Jin Mei), Rebecca Ray, Erin Santos (Matt), and Adriane Gutierrez, and great grandchildren Leia and Jack Ray and Cade and Cam Santos. She is also survived by brothers Charles Snyder (Virginia) and Larry Snyder (Jeannie), and sister Martha Bokowski.
Jan. 15, 1927 - March 6, 2017
Resident of San Jose
Gretchen was born on the family farm just outside of Percival, Iowa, to the late Merton K. and Ida L. Snyder, the fourth of seven children. She graduated early from Sidney High School in Iowa and relocated across the Missouri River to Nebraska City, NE., where she began her work career as a secretary/clerk typist. It was in Nebraska City that she met her future husband, Jess Ray. They were married in Falls City, NE., on June 12th, 1945, and were married for over 71 years until his passing on January 15th of this year.
Over the next 20 years, Gretchen and Jess had five children, moving frequently from one small town to another in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas seeking better opportunities to support the family. In 1964, Jess accepted a company transfer to the Bay Area with the family eventually settling in San Jose in June 1965. Gretchen worked various administrative jobs while having her sixth child until she accepted a position at the San Jose Mercury News in January of 1969. She absolutely loved working for the Merc and spent over 25 happy years there until retiring in February of 1994.
Gretchen's passion was the love for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was also extremely fond of her cats and had quite a collection of crossword puzzle books.
Preceded in death by her husband, Jess Ray, and her daughter, Colleen (Coke) Ray-Nichols, Gretchen is survived by her son Mike Ray (Emily), daughter Susan Miranda (Richie), daughter Robin Ray (Debora), sons Jeff Ray and Randy Ray, grandchildren Adam Ray (Jin Mei), Rebecca Ray, Erin Santos (Matt), and Adriane Gutierrez, and great grandchildren Leia and Jack Ray and Cade and Cam Santos. She is also survived by brothers Charles Snyder (Virginia) and Larry Snyder (Jeannie), and sister Martha Bokowski.
Gretchen Ray
Jan. 15, 1927 - March 6, 2017
Resident of San Jose
Gretchen was born on the family farm just outside of Percival, Iowa, to the late Merton K. and Ida L. Snyder, the fourth of seven children. She graduated early from Sidney High School in Iowa and relocated across the Missouri River to Nebraska City, NE., where she began her work career as a secretary/clerk typist. It was in Nebraska City that she met her future husband, Jess Ray. They were married in Falls City, NE., on June 12th, 1945, and were married for over 71 years until his passing on January 15th of this year.
Over the next 20 years, Gretchen and Jess had five children, moving frequently from one small town to another in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas seeking better opportunities to support the family. In 1964, Jess accepted a company transfer to the Bay Area with the family eventually settling in San Jose in June 1965. Gretchen worked various administrative jobs while having her sixth child until she accepted a position at the San Jose Mercury News in January of 1969. She absolutely loved working for the Merc and spent over 25 happy years there until retiring in February of 1994.
Gretchen's passion was the love for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was also extremely fond of her cats and had quite a collection of crossword puzzle books.
Preceded in death by her husband, Jess Ray, and her daughter, Colleen (Coke) Ray-Nichols, Gretchen is survived by her son Mike Ray (Emily), daughter Susan Miranda (Richie), daughter Robin Ray (Debora), sons Jeff Ray and Randy Ray, grandchildren Adam Ray (Jin Mei), Rebecca Ray, Erin Santos (Matt), and Adriane Gutierrez, and great grandchildren Leia and Jack Ray and Cade and Cam Santos. She is also survived by brothers Charles Snyder (Virginia) and Larry Snyder (Jeannie), and sister Martha Bokowski.
Jan. 15, 1927 - March 6, 2017
Resident of San Jose
Gretchen was born on the family farm just outside of Percival, Iowa, to the late Merton K. and Ida L. Snyder, the fourth of seven children. She graduated early from Sidney High School in Iowa and relocated across the Missouri River to Nebraska City, NE., where she began her work career as a secretary/clerk typist. It was in Nebraska City that she met her future husband, Jess Ray. They were married in Falls City, NE., on June 12th, 1945, and were married for over 71 years until his passing on January 15th of this year.
Over the next 20 years, Gretchen and Jess had five children, moving frequently from one small town to another in Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas seeking better opportunities to support the family. In 1964, Jess accepted a company transfer to the Bay Area with the family eventually settling in San Jose in June 1965. Gretchen worked various administrative jobs while having her sixth child until she accepted a position at the San Jose Mercury News in January of 1969. She absolutely loved working for the Merc and spent over 25 happy years there until retiring in February of 1994.
Gretchen's passion was the love for her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She was also extremely fond of her cats and had quite a collection of crossword puzzle books.
Preceded in death by her husband, Jess Ray, and her daughter, Colleen (Coke) Ray-Nichols, Gretchen is survived by her son Mike Ray (Emily), daughter Susan Miranda (Richie), daughter Robin Ray (Debora), sons Jeff Ray and Randy Ray, grandchildren Adam Ray (Jin Mei), Rebecca Ray, Erin Santos (Matt), and Adriane Gutierrez, and great grandchildren Leia and Jack Ray and Cade and Cam Santos. She is also survived by brothers Charles Snyder (Virginia) and Larry Snyder (Jeannie), and sister Martha Bokowski.
Family Members
Spouse
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
