Margie Booker Gray

Margie Booker Gray died June 16, 2013, at the age of 93 in St. Elizabeth’s hospital, Beaumont, after fighting a good fight to recover from a scooter injury she sustained while in Portugal, almost completing her transatlantic European three week cruise.

Margie lived a wonderful life. She was born in Brookeland, Texas to Zelma & Elijah Booker, May 6, 1920. Margie married Austin T. Gray in 1936, and moved to Beaumont, where they lived a very active life, always contributing to their community in many areas.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Austin T. Gray and nephew, John Keith Booker. She is survived by her brother E.J. Booker & his wife Zelta Bloodsworth Booker, and brother Jimmy E. Booker & wife Merle Merritt Booker. Her many nieces & nephews, who loved her like another grandmother, are Sherrie Booker Branick & husband Jeff Branick, Port Neches, Roy West Jr. & wife Trisha, Beaumont, Bryan Booker & wife Anita, Dallas, JoCarolyn Crowell & husband Ronnie, Dimebox, Texas, Derwyn Booker & wife Susan, Clear Lake, Jerome Booker, Beaumont, & Lesa Booker McGinnis & husband Dennis, Kingwood. Great nephews & great nieces are: Whitney West Stiles & husband Zach, Beaumont, Evan West, Beaumont, Merritt Branick & Ellie Grace Branick, Port Neches, Claire Booker, Dallas, Scott Crowell & wife Katie, North Carolina, Todd Crowell & Garrett Crowell, Austin, Marshall Booker, California, Lauren Booker, Clear Lake, Eric Booker, Beaumont, Ryan Booker, Zhuhai, China, Elyse McGinnis, Allison McGinnis, Daniel McGinnis, Colleen McGinnis & Blaine McGinnis, all of Kingwood, and 8 great great nieces & nephews.

Margie was an extremely active lifelong member of St. Paul United Methodist Church, helping out in any capacity in which she was needed. She loved to cook and until very recent years would cook Thanksgiving dinner for the entire church.

Margie absolutely loved to travel, both across America and around the world. She incorporated her love of traveling with her love for her church by organizing grand trips all over America as a means of fundraising for St.Paul’s. She would fill an entire bus – or two- and head out to see the fall foliage in New England, attend shows in Branson, view the leaves turning in the great west, and many other destinations for the dozens of adventures she planned and lead. She organized these trips until her late 80s, and would joke she was taking the “old folks” on trips, as she never thought of herself as the oldest one of all! Her love of travel never ceased, as she was on another grand world adventure just prior to her passing.

Margie was very active in many civic organizations, including: Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, Pilot Club of Beaumont, The Lioness Club, and The Women’s Club, among others and held many offices throughout the years, including Queen of the Nile and Worthy Matron of Eastern Star. She enjoyed many years at Gulf States Utilities, where she worked until her retirement.

Always staying active, at the age of 82 she decided to build a brand new home from the ground up and loved having her family over at any time, and especially for holidays. Two summers ago she moved into Calder Woods and so enjoyed her time there with all her friends, and her sweet helper Amanda.

Margie Gray loved life. She loved family. She loved doing for the Lord and for others. She will be most greatly missed, but we rejoice that she is home with our Lord and Savior now.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Beaumont. Visitation will be Wednesday, June 19, 2013 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home.

Friends who wish may direct memorial contributions to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 4445 Pershing St., Beaumont, Texas, 77705.