LOVING AND WISE JULIE GAVE HER LIFE TO CARING FOR OTHERS
JULIE GRAY – AN APPRECIATION
THE family, friends and communities in Arklow and in Warsaw, Virginia, USA are grieving the passing of Julie Gray (née Gannon) who went to be with her Lord on June 7 at her home in Virginia, USA, surrounded by her loving family and friends.
Julie gave her life to caring for others.
She was compassionate and wise, always willing to come alongside and provide support.
She was determined and capable, with a ‘can do’ attitude all based on her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ who was her rock and strength.
This, combined with her quick wit and warm smile, endeared her to all who knew her.
Born November 1968 she grew up with her family at 13 Pearse Terrace, Wexford Road in Arklow.
She was the daughter of James (Shamie) Gannon and Sarah (Sally) Gannon (née Maloney) and the sister of Brigitte (Bebe), Jimmy, Annette, Denise, Melanie and Stephanie and half-sister of Patricia. Julie is pre-deceased by her father, who died last December.
Julie attended St Michael’s primary school and St Mary’s College in Arklow, where she is remembered as a great athlete and an excellent hockey player who was admired and feared in equal measure by her team mates.
However, it was gymnastics that she loved most and ulti- mately pursued in college.
This led to her travelling to Atlanta in the USA in 1988 as a leader in a camp as a summer job. It was there she met her wonderful friends Florence and Brian Brown. Through them she came to know, and ultimately marry, her husband of 25 years, John Gray of Tennessee, an electronics engineer.
Julie and John married in 1991 and set up home in Warsaw County in Virginia, where they established a small farm on which they raised organic crops and livestock for their family. They were blessed with five wonderful children – Nathan, Jonathan, Jacob, Emma and Katie – and daughter-inlaw Alexandra, who joined the family days before Julie’s untimely death.
Julie trained as a nurse and midwife and practiced in Virginia where many a baby took their first breath in her loving care.
She also somehow managed to be a home-school mother and educated all her children, three of whom are currently excelling in college.
She was active in the local home-schooling group and as- sisted many other parents to do likewise.
Julie established a tea-room in her home where she hosted and loved her many friends and put the world to rights. Her many friends attribute their sanity to the afternoons spent in Julie’s tea rooms where her faith, her sense of humour and her wisdom came into its own! She loved music, dancing and singing and her children have inherited these wonderful attributes.
Julie also loved to travel, to Paris and France in particular. She loved her native Ireland and often made trips home.
She was laid to rest following an intimate private ceremony in Warsaw, Virginia on June 9. Julie was dearly loved and is greatly missed by her family and many friends.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held in The Bridge Christian Community Church, Wexford Road, Arklow on Saturday, August 12, at 6 p.m. with refreshments provided afterwards. All are welcome.
Ar dheis lamh Dé go raibh a hanam dilis.
THE GANNON AND GRAY FAMILIES