Virginia Lee Gray

Virginia Lee Gray, 84, formerly of Nevada, passed away on June 8, 2008, at her home in Carthage following a lengthy illness. She was born on May 11, 1924, in Cardin, Okla., to Linn Edward Flournoy and Alberta Belk Flournoy. On Dec. 12, 1975, she was married to Wendell "Wimpy" Gray and he preceded her in death in 2001.

Virginia grew up in Cardin, Okla., and graduated from Joplin High School. She worked as a nurse's aid for 20 years at the Nevada City Hospital until her retirement in 1982. Virginia has lived in Carthage for the past 12 years. She was a member of the Pine Street Baptist Church, in Nevada, and was a charter member of the Nevada Eagles Lodge.

Survivors include three daughters, Phyllis Dittmar, of Pittsburg, Kan., Joyce Snodgrass, of Carthage, Mo., and Janice Dirck Anders, formerly of Nevada, and her husband Ron, of Tulsa, Okla.; nine grandchildren, Billy Dittmar, Trisha Brewer, Stephanie Strong, Jeff Snodgrass, Savannah Meyer; seven great-grandchildren; one brother Stanley Shepard, of Norfolk, Va., formerly of Nevada. In addition to her husband Wimpy, she was preceded in death by one son, Lloyd Dirck Jr., in 2004.

Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m., on Wednesday, June 11, at the National Cemetery, in Fort Scott, under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada. The Rev. Verle Strong will officiate. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m., today at the funeral home

Those who wish may contribute to the Salvation Army of Pittsburg, in care of Ferry Funeral Home, 301 S. Washington, Nevada, MO 64772.