Luella Esther Matilda (Schroeder) Gray, 83

Luella Esther Matilda (Schroeder) Gray, 83, of Huntingburg went to be with our Lord on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center in Jasper and was surrounded by her close family members who shared in a prayer service at her bedside.

She was born January 17, 1932 in Holland, Indiana, the youngest child of Daniel C. and Lena (Nussmeyer) Schroeder.

Her mother passed away when she was 14 months old; subsequently, her father and loving stepmother, Ida Sickbert, raised her along with her brother Melvin and her sister Mildred.

Luella graduated from Holland High School in 1950. While working at General Electric, she married Harvey Gray of Reelsville, Indiana. On June 30th of this year, the two of them observed their 64th wedding anniversary.

Luella enjoyed camping, hiking and traveling to historical places. During her family’s travels she visited 44 of the 48 contiguous states in America. On researching her genealogy, Luella discovered she was a distant cousin to Neil Armstrong and felt a strong bond with him.

Interestingly, while employed at P.R. Mallory’s in Greencastle she helped make the capacitor that was used in the Apollo mission for Neil Armstrong’s lift off flight from the moon.

Luella loved to play the piano and organ, until she lost her hearing; to plant flowers; read; do crossword and jigsaw puzzles; and write letters to family and friends. She was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Holland.

She is survived by her husband, Harvey L. Gray of Huntingburg; three children, Lee Ann Gray of Cloverdale, Michael (Sheila) Gray of Brownsburg and Ginger Ward of Valkaria, Fla.; two siblings, Melvin Schroeder of Holland and Mildred Helmerich of Huntingburg; four grandchildren, Joe Siebrase of Zionsville, Nathan Siebrase of Tybee Island, Ga., Mahala Gadley of Cleveland, Ohio, and Eric Ward of Fla.; two step-grandchildren, Suzette Corradi and James Burton; two great-grandchildren, Cole Siebrase and Paige Gadley; three step-great-grandchildren, Aaron Corradi, Morgan Corradi, and Christian Burton; one great-great-grandchild, Owen Corradi; and several nieces and nephews who knew her as “Auntie L”.

A memorial service for Luella Gray will be held at 2:00 p.m. July 18th, 2015, the following Saturday after the next, at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Holland. Pastor Debbie Roe will officiate at the service. 

Friends may call for visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. Nass & Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

There will be no visitation at the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ in Holland. 

Condolences may be shared online at www.nassandson.com.