Lavonne Harriet Gray

March 4, 1927 - April 10, 2014

Lavonne Harriet Gray, age 87 of Knoxville and formerly of Ankeny, passed away Thursday morning, April 10, 2014, at the Mercy West Lake Hospital in West Des Moines. Lavonne was born in Frost Village, Minnesota, on March 4, 1927, the daughter of Theodore Knute and Hannah (Lund) Nesheim. Lavonne grew up in Frost and graduated from Frost High School before attending Waldorf College and obtaining her teaching certificate. After college Lavonne began teaching in Woodward, Iowa. She met Donald Gray and on January 15, 1949 in Frost, Lavonne and Donald where united in marriage. They shared 25 years of marriage and were blessed with three sons: Terry, Rod and Gregory. Donald died suddenly in 1974. Lavonne taught for a short time after she married but for many years she raised her family, was a homemaker and helped her husband with some billing where he managed a telephone company. After Donald’s death she worked in sales and clerical work. Lavonne was also very artistic and was a talented painter, she wrote poetry, played piano, and she enjoyed jig-saw puzzles, politics and loved dogs all her life. She is survived by her sons, Terry (Jean) Gray of Peoria, AZ, Rod (Sheila) Gray of Clive and Gregory (Melissa) Gray of Knoxville; six grandchildren, Brian Gray, Eric Gray, Robert Gray, Sarah (Derek) Hoy, Ross Gray and Scott Gray; and two great-grandchildren, Carter and Elliott. Lavonne was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Donald Gray and her brothers, Kenneth, Glen, Wilbur and Wallace Nesheim and one brother in infancy. Lavonne’s wishes were to be cremated and a celebration of life memorial gathering will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 15, 2014, at the Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville. Lavonne’s family will be present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday evening. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the Marion County Humane Society. Condolences may be sent to www.winfieldfh.com. The Winfield Funeral Home of Knoxville is assisting Lavonne’s family with arrangements.