BAUKJE “BEA” GRAY-SLUIS
Our mom, Baukje B. Gray-Sluis, died of Covid on Jan. 6, 2021, in Chico.
A native of Enkhuizen, Holland, Baukje (or Bauk as she preferred to be called) was born July 5, 1924. Her family crossed the Atlantic on a ship, then traveled by train from New York City to their new home in Mount Vernon, Washington, in 1935. It must’ve been quite a journey with seven young children! The eighth Sluis sibling was born in America.
Bauk struggled to learn English and fit in at school, and worked hard at home, helping raise her six brothers and one sister. Her family moved to California and farmed walnuts in Ripon. She attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, then the University of California, San Francisco, and U.C. Berkeley. She said she felt fortunate that her father permitted her, a girl, to attend college like her brothers.
She became a registered nurse and worked for the Oakland Department of Public Health. One of her patients had leprosy, and she consulted a handsome young physician in Berkeley who specialized in tropical skin diseases, Dr. Herman Gray.
Baukje and Herman were married July 19, 1952, in Alameda, and left a short time later for the Benue Leprosy Settlement in Nigeria. They remained in that country for more than 20 years and raised two sons, Mark and Stan, while helping establish rural health facilities and treating patients.
In 1972 the Grays moved to Chester, California, so their boys could finish high school in the U.S. When Stan and Mark were grown, Bauk and Herman returned to Nigeria for five more years before settling in Chico to be near their sons. In their 70s, they drove their old station wagon up the Alaska Highway with their rescue terrier and African Grey Parrot, to spend months working in a remote outpost when the doctor there fell ill.
They traveled Europe, Japan, China, Mongolia, Siberia, Egypt, Israel and many other places, and told great stories. They were avid readers and took many classes through the Osher Life-Long learning Institute (OLLI) at Chico State University. They were active and generous members of Bidwell Presbyterian Church.
Herman and Baukje were seldom apart during their 68-year marriage. He continued to work as a physician into his 90s, but contracted pneumonia and died Oct. 29, 2020. Bauk was infected with Covid at an assisted living home, and lived just 67 days longer than her husband.
Volunteering with Safe Space, the Grays made many pots of lentil soup for homeless Chicoans who sought shelter in local churches. Donations in their memory may be made to Safe Space, 236 W. East Ave, Suite A, PMB 115, Chico, CA 95973.
They leave behind their sons and daughter-in-law, Stan, Mark and Elaine Gray, all of Chico. We are grateful to Bea’s kind neighbors and friends, who helped us all so much since dad died; to the incredible staff at Enloe Hospital; and to our families.
No formal service is planned. Newton-Bracewell Chico Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be left at their website NewtonBracewell.com.