Bette F. Gray

March 31, 1933 - January 9, 2017

Bette Faith (McCall) Gray, 83, of Rocky Ford, passed away on Monday, January 9, 2017 at her home. Bette was born on March 31, 1933 in Kim, CO to the late Stella (Grove) and Duncan McCall. Her father died on her 18th birthday and after graduation from Kim High School. She and her mother moved to La Junta so she could obtain employment to help support them. She worked several jobs in La Junta. There she met Augustus Eugene Gearhart and they were married in 1957. To this union, they had a daughter and 2 sons. After her husband had many jobs they opened a Shoe Repair Shop & Bette obtained employment with the Department of Social Services in La Junta. They divorced in 1977. After divorcing she learned to drive a big rig truck. While joining a bowling, she met Richard Gray and they were married on June 8, 1985 in a little chapel in Cuchara, CO. During their time together, Richard & Bette enjoyed dancing, bowling, fishing and doing wood crafts. They enjoyed some traveling doing promotion work for The Fraternal Order of Police in several cities, organized and sponsored bus tours, eventually operating a cleaning service, D & B Unlimited, as Bette's health continued to deteriorate requiring them to discontinue their business. In November of 2006, Richard & Bette were baptized into the First Baptist Church where they both continued to work. They lived in La Junta and in 1999 their home was destroyed by a flood and they were forced to move to Rocky Ford where they currently reside. Music was her passion and Bette did some bit parts in some musical productions with the OJC Theatre. She sang with the OJC Community Choir for several semesters, sang with the Presbyterian Church Holiday concerts. She was on a Praise Team & Choir and did solos work at her own church. Bette is survived by her husband Richard of the home; daughter: Tamara (Mark) Kempton of Bellevue, NE; son: Jace Gearhart of La Junta; son: Timothy Gearhart of La Junta; daughter: Susan Gray of Pueblo; 19 grandchildren; 5 great-children; 4 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister: Diane Gruver and an infant brother. Funeral services will be on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 2:00 PM in the First Baptist Church in Rocky Ford. Viewing will be on Friday from 1:00 PM until service time in the church. Cremation will follow the service and inurnment will be later in Ft. Lyon National Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ford-Ustick Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to www.fordustick.com.

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