Jean D. Gray passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2016,
at the age of 84. The wife of the late Glenn W. Gray of Stockton, she is survived by her three children Laura Mueller (Bob) of Gardnerville, NV, Jenny Jones (Bob) of Stockton and Greg W. Gray of Stockton. Her three granddaughters, Megan and Morgan Gray, Brooke Jones, and great-grandson Louis also survive her.
Jean was the daughter of professional baseball player, the late Jake Daniel, a former Brooklyn Dodger (among other ball clubs) and Ruby Daniel of La Grange, Georgia. She enjoyed travel, journaling, gardening, baking and loved music. Jean taught Linden 4-H cooking classes and enjoyed dances with her husband at the Stockton Moose Lodge. She attended local Baptist churches as well as Dunson Baptist Church of La Grange, Georgia.
A memorial service to celebrate Jean's life will be held at a later date. Please contact The Home Church, 11451 N. West Land, Lodi, CA (209) 339-7333 for details.
He was 85. He was born April 26, 1931 to Viola and Henry Willhite in Bokoshe, OK. The family moved to California and settled in Linden when he was 10 years old. He was a proud U.S. Army veteran, and was a retriever mechanic serving 2 tours of duty during the Korean Conflict. Upon his return from military service to civilian life he met and fell in love with Maryanthia Vezaldenos. They wed soon after in June 1955 and remained happily married for the past 61 years. He worked his entire life in the farming and trucking industry. He started O.W. trucking and later O.W. Hay Service. He had a strong, tireless work ethic, with his mantra being: “Work first, there’s always time to play later”. When the work was done he loved to hunt and fish and in later years enjoyed golfing with his wife. More important than anything to him was spending time with his wife, family and life-long friends.He is survived by his loving wife Maryanthia; his daughter Victoria (Billy) Harris; daughter Judee Willhite, and son Ole (Janet) Willhite Jr. He will be missed as “Papa” to his grandchildren: Hilary (Michael) Seymour, Joey (Stefania) Willhite, Samantha (Troy) Swanson, Billy (Rachel) Harris, Jr. and Jason (Nikki) Harris. His great grandchildren: Mikayla, Mikenna and Mikenzie Seymour; Olivia and T.J. Swanson, and Riley and Joshua Harris will miss their beloved “Papa-O”. He is also survived by his sister Catherine Coldani; and brothers Earl, Ray, and John Willhite.
Dad knew his journey here was drawing to a close and specifically asked that we be sure to acknowledge his dedicated and caring Dr. Abbas Chothia, Dr. John Bouteller, his favorite nurse Donna Burke (RNP) and the entire staff of Stockton Cardiology. Also a special thank you to Dr. James Morrissey who dad attributes giving him 33 additional years of time with his family and was always revered as a family friend.
Forever in our hearts; rest in peace now Dad until we are together again.
She is survived by her children: Bonnie (Deryl) Johnson, Cody (Cheryl) McBee, Scott McBee, and Suzanne (Chuck) Moorehead; grandchildren: Kristy Martinez, Katie Perron, Andrew Johnson, Lacey Gunn, and Farrah Alcombright; great-grandchildren: Dallas and Peyton Martinez, Lilly and Chloe Perron, and Wyatt Gunn; and brother Robert Thomson and sister Betty Leonard.She is preceded in death by husband George McBee, and her parents Robert and Lacey Thomson. Lacey instilled the gift of having a personal relationship with God in all of her children and the knowledge that we will all meet again.