Funeral services for Joell Sue Gray, 76, of Purcell will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 15, 2024 at the First Baptist Church in Purcell. Services were under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Mrs. Gray passed away unexpectedly at home on Friday, February 9, 2024.
Joell was born on July 25, 1947 in Enid, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of three and only daughter born to Joseph Cecil Hale and Marthella (Sallee) Hale.
Joell graduated from Paoli High School with the class of 1965. She then attended East Central University and received her Bachelors in Elementary Education in 1970. She later went back and got her Masters in Elementary Education in 1990.
Joell taught elementary school for 33 years before retiring. She taught her first year at Chickasha and her last 32 years were at Wayne Public Schools.
Joell married Gaylon Gray on August 13, 1988 in Purcell and they made their home in Purcell. After she retired from teaching, she got her real estate license and worked briefly for Brumley Realty in Pauls Valley and later for Musgrave Realty in Purcell for more than 10 years.
Whatever Joell did, she put her heart and soul into it. She was a wonderful school teacher and loved her students. And she was a dedicated realtor making homeowners dreams come true.
She was a faithful Christian and active member of the Purcell First Baptist Church. For over 20 years, she and Gaylon worked side-by- side running the sound and video equipment for weekly church services.
Joell had many hobbies and loved to stay busy. She was an avid reader and loved reading all types of books, from mystery novels to adventure stories. She enjoyed playing cards and she loved being in the outdoors and working in her yard. She enjoyed snow skiing and water skiing. She was a fabulous cook and famous for her homemade pies, especially coconut cream and pecan, and also her divinity candy. And we can’t forget her fried chicken and the best fried potatoes in the world. When she wasn’t cooking at home, she loved going out to eat a good steak.
Joell was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She enjoyed watching the granddaughters play softball and she liked attending high school basketball games. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Joell was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Marthella Hale and her husband, Gaylon Gray on June 2023.
She is survived by her son, Les Spence of Purcell; daughter, Amy Gray of Purcell; grandson, Kyle Spence; granddaughters, Haley and Josie Kretchmar; two brothers, Jerry Hale and wife, Rosalie, of Woodward, Okla., and Doug Hale and wife, Jana, of Weatherford, Okla.; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
Online condolences may be made at wilsonlittle.com.
