Irene E. Gray, 96, of Lincoln, NE went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at Holmes Lake Manor. She was born on April 25, 1915 in Brunswick, Nebraska to William and Ellen (Nelson) Rose. At age 16 she graduated as class valedictorian from Brunswick High School and received a scholarship to Wayne State Teachers College where she graduated with Bachelor of Fine Arts music with a minor in English. She taught high school in Wausa, Nebraska for three years before earning her Master’s in Education from the University of Denver. She went on to earn a second Master’s in Classics Greek and Latin from UNL. She was teaching high school in Mt. Olive, Illinois during WWII when her father’s unexpected death brought her back to Brunswick to run the family grocery store. While overseeing the grocery business she also taught school full time.
On August 17, 1945, Irene married her long time musical associate Ralph Gray, Superintendent of Schools at Inman, Nebraska. With Irene’s vocal music skills and Ralph being an accomplished band instructor they literally made beautiful music together for the next 54 years. They both taught at Inman until transferring to Blue Hill, Nebraska where Ralph became Superintendent of Schools and Irene taught English and Latin and oversaw numerous extra-curricular activities. Ralph’s promotion to the State Department of Education brought them to Lincoln where Irene was a Greek and Latin Professor at UNL until retirement.
Irene was always an avid reader completing four books a week and an enthusiastic writer who had three books of poetry published. Irene was a member of MENSA, Eastern Star, American Legion Auxiliary and many writing groups and book clubs some being Lincoln Chaparral Poets, Quill and The Write Stuff.
She was preceded in death by her husband Ralph and beloved brother Lynn Rose of Ainsworth, NE.
Survivors include her nephew William Lynn Rose and wife Lynne, niece and nephew Carol and Mike Toomey, great nephew Michael Lynn Rose and great niece Tracy Toomey Badeer all of Lincoln as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. Saturday (3-24-12) Indian Hill Community Church, 1000 South 84th Street. Rev. Eddie Masters, officiating.
Memorials to the family for future designation.
Visitation: 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Friday with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p., at Roper and Sons, 4300 ‘O’ Street and one hour prior to service time at the church.