Mary Gray

Mary Louise Gray of DeFuniak Springs passed away late Friday evening surrounded by family and friends in a DeFuniak Springs healthcare facility. She was born June 19, 1920 in Louisville, Kentucky, the daughter of Philip M. and Frances Elizabeth Wright Zilhart. A homemaker most of her life, Mary moved from Homestead to Sunset King Lake Resort in DeFuniak Springs some fourteen years ago. She immediately made friends and became a part of the community, enjoying card games, and numerous crafts, making sure family and friends were always well stocked with home knitted dishcloths. In her earlier years she was an avid bowler and competed in state and national tournaments. Although not an equestrian herself, she traveled and attended horse shows with her daughter and was known in the circuits as a “Horse Show Mom”. Until ill health prevailed she was part of the fellowship of King Lake Chapel. She is predeceased by her parents, her husband Nicholas Jack Gray, her brother Cresswell Zilhart, her sister Frances Murphy and her grandson Jeffrey Ryan Bielski.

Among survivors are her daughter Alice Kaye Green and husband Charles of Ponce de Leon, FL, her brother Philip Edward Zilhart of Eustis, FL and her sister Jane Lee Eversole of Key Largo FL. Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Floral arrangements are being accepted or donations may be made in Mrs. Gray’s memory to Covenant Hospice. A time of visitation will be Tuesday, March 30, 2010 from 6 until 8 P.M. in Jerry Evans Chapel in DeFuniak Springs. Additionally a visitation will be held at Palms Woodlawn Funeral Home in Naranja, Florida, Thursday, April 1, 2010 from 6 until 8 P.M. Graveside services will be held at Palms Woodlawn Cemetery Friday, April 2, 2010 at 2:00 P.M. Burial will follow in Palms Woodlawn Cemetery. Also, a memorial will be held at the King Lake Chapel at a later date.