Obituary of Edward T. Gray

LITTLE FALLS - Edward T. Gray, 90, passed from this life on November 12, 2017.  He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 68 years, Anna (Wrobel) Gray, their son, Edward T. Gray, Jr., and wife, Laurel (McDonald) Gray, and his granddaughter, Rachel J. Gray. Also surviving are his siblings, Anne Drapalski, Jane Desmond, and Jan Gray; and many nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents, Ignatz and Wladyslawa (Borowska) Gray, and by two brothers, Frank S. Gray, M.D., and Joseph S. Gray.

After graduating from Little Falls High School (1945) and serving in the U.S. Army (1945 – 1947), Eddie returned to Little Falls and joined the family business. Through the 1950s and 1960s, his welcoming smile could be seen throughout the store, and as a partner in Grays’ Market, he was involved in all aspects of the independent grocery business. By the time Grays’ Market closed in 1970, several generations of customers had grown up knowing that “going to the store” meant shopping at Grays’ Market. 

In his next life, Eddie joined the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union and began work as a meat-cutter for P&C Foods, Inc. During the 1970s and into the 1980s he worked in several of the P&C stores in the Mohawk Valley. He retired from P&C in 1987.

Eddie was a loyal NY Yankees and NY Giants fan, as well as a lifelong stamp collector. He performed for many years in the Little Falls Symphony Orchestra, playing the violin. During retirement, Eddie was able to devote more time to his church and church community. He and Ann volunteered at Holy Family Parish as Eucharistic Ministers, on the Resurrection Committee, and as money counters. Ed often said that the “favorite job” he ever held was his nineteen years teaching first grade in the Faith Formation program. 

Friends and relatives are invited to attend calling hours for Eddie, which will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 from 3:00PM – 6:00PM at the Enea Family Funeral Home, 24 West Monroe Street, Little Falls (315) 823-2424. The funeral service will commence on Thursday morning, November 16, 2017, at 10:30AM at the funeral home and at 11:00AM at Holy Family Parish Church, corner of East Main & John Streets, Little Falls, where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Terence Healy, assisted by Deacon Jim Bower. Procession will follow to St. Mary’s Cemetery, town of Herkimer, where he will be laid to rest, with full military honors conferred by the United States Army. The family suggests that in lieu of floral offerings, please consider memorial contributions to the Holy Family Parish Memorial Fund, 763 East Main Street, Little Falls, NY 13365. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Arrangements and supervision have been entrusted to Harry and Kevin Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors of the Enea Family Funeral Homes. Online notes of sympathy may be left at www.eneafamily.com.