ELKHART -- Friends of Elmer J. Gray may call one hour prior to today's noon funeral service at Community Missionary Baptist Church. The Rev. Lefate Owens will officiate and burial will be at Prairie Street Cemetery. Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Gray, 58, of 247 W. Dinehart Ave., died at 12:58 a.m. Monday (May 28, 2007) in Elkhart General Hospital.

He was born Jan. 15, 1949, in Lilbourn, Mo., to Ellis and Margaret (Jones) Gray Sr. On Feb. 22, 1992, in Elkhart, he married Ginnie V. Pratcher.

She survives along with one son, Alaric Blair of Chicago; 20 grandchildren; two sisters, Margaret (Alfonzo) House of Indianapolis and Linda (Lamar) Jefferson of Mount Prospect, Ill.; five brothers, Ellis Gray Jr. (a twin brother) and Charles and Earl (Ruby) Gray, all of Elkhart, John Gray of Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Michael (Mary) Gray of Goshen; his father, Ellis Gray Sr. of Portagevile, Mo.; and his mother, Margaret Gray of Elkhart.

He was preceded in death by one stepson, Billy Ray Carter.

Mr. Gray was employed at Bearcat Corp. in Goshen for the past 20 years. He was a member of Community Missionary Baptist Church, where he served on the board of trustees and was a faithful usher. He enjoyed laying on the couch, sleeping and watching football. He also enjoyed his grandkids and ice cream and never seemed to meet a stranger. He was also well-known for always trying to get people to buy something from him.

Memorials may be given to the Elmer J. Gray Memorial Fund c/o the family. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.billingsfuneralhome.com

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