Services for Beloved Woman Held in This City Last Friday
The people of Comanche county were shocked on Wednesday last week to hear of the unexpected death of Mrs. Lewis Gray of Coldwater in the Murray hospital in Dodge City, to which place she had been taken in the ambulance several days before for treatment. She had improved considerably and was making plans to return home when she suffered a sinking spell and died soon afterward.Funeral services were held in the Assembly of God Tabernacle in this city at 2:30 p.m. last Friday, October 1, and were in charge of a former pastor, Rev. C. W. Safford of Dodge City, assisted by the present pastor, Rev. D. E. Calloway.
Mrs. M. L. Zerby and Mrs. D. E. Calloway sang "Safe in the Arms of Jesus," "Does Jesus Care?" and "In the Morning of Joy," accompanied on the piano by Mrs. Hobart McMillen. There were many floral offerings as tributes to the friend of all who knew her.
Burial was in Crown Hill cemetery. The pallbearers were B. J. Herd, Clinton Herd, Guy Crowe, Martin Zerby, Hosea Nimmo and Frank Dodson.
Obituary Anna Huffmaster was born in Peoria, Ill., July 2, 1878 and departed this life at the Murray hospital in Dodge City, Kans., October 9, 1946, at the age of 68 years, 3 months and 7 days.
At the age of 8 years she came with her family to Beaver county, Oklahoma, where they lived for three years. Then the Huffmaster family moved to Coldwater, Kans., where the deceased spent the rest of her life. Here Anna Huffmaster was educated, taught school several years, and was County Superintendent for four years.
On November 23, 1905, she was united in marriage with Lewis Gray. To this union were born three children: Edgar Lewis Gray (deceased), Francis Gray Newmark of Denver, Colo., and Ralph Robert Gray of Norton, Kans.
While still in young womanhood, Anna Huffmaster united with the Presbyterian church of Coldwater, and later when the Assembly of God Tabernacle was organized in Coldwater, she became a charter member of this church, where her membership remained until her passing.
She was a kind and loving wife and mother and a thoughtful neighbor, and as a sterling Christian always wore "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." The community of Coldwater will long remember the exemplary life of this Christian wife, mother, and friend, Anna Huffmaster Gray. She was one of the best read women in Comanche county, and by her kindness and unselfishness endeared herself to all who knew her.
She is survived by her husband, Lewis Gray; a daughter, Francis Gray Newmark, and a son, Ralph Robert Gray. Also, there are two brothers, Charles Huffmaster of Satanta, Kans., and Albert Huffmaster of Felsburg, Kans., two sisters; Mrs. Belle Woodsworth of Hayden, Colo., and Miss Ella Huffmaster of Felsburg; two grandchildren: Carolyn Francis Gray and Mary Roberta Gray, as well as nieces, nephews, and many friends.
The Western Star, October 18, 1946. Ill From Bite of Black Widow Spider
Mrs. Francis Gray-Newmark of Denver, with with her husband came to Coldwater to attend the funeral of her mother, Mrs. Lewis Gray, was bitten by a black widow spider early last Saturday morning.
She suffered much agony in spite of hypodermics administered by a physician and Sunday morning was taken in the ambulance to the Murray hospital in Dodge City. She was not able to leave the hospital for several days.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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