The Name: Gray

Owen Gray Mleynek

I want to explain the origin of Owen's middle name.

This is my Great Grandpa, Charles F. Gray:

And his wife, my Great Grandma, Ruth Gray.

They are pictured here with their three children,

my Uncle Walt, my Aunt Rita (Banks), and my Grandma Mary (Secor).

And here with my Mom, Cheri.

Great Grandma died when my Mom was in high school, so I never knew her.  But Mom always told us stories about this special woman that have helped her legacy live on. There's quite a list of things my Mom did with her Grandma Gray that were special things between them, things that when my Mom did them with us (mostly kitchen work and baking) we always talked about Grandma Gray.

Here is Great Grandpa Gray with my Mom (on the far left) and her siblings.

(Uncle Mark and Aunt Kristy)

Here is Grandpa Gray with me (in the middle) and two of my sisters, Anna (the baby) and Angie.

This man was so special to us.  He died in 1999 at the age of 99! I was in high school, but I have so many fond memories of him.  When I think of a spiritual saint or a prayer warrior, I envision my Grandpa Gray.  His prayer was powerful and I can still hear the way his voice, reverent and strong, though shaky with age, sounded when he prayed out loud.  And if you were around him during a sermon, you could be sure to hear him saying "Amen" from his seat in agreement of God's word being preached. (He was a preacher himself for a lot of years!) There are certain hymns that remind me of the way he sang them, with so much feeling!  His voice echoed praise and glory to God, who he served so faithfully and loved so much.  I'm thankful for this man and the way he led his life and his family.  Owen's middle name "Gray" is inspired by him and the Gray family name.  My prayer is that Owen becomes a man of God, like my Great Grandpa, and I can tell him stories of the faithfulness of our family heritage that we are so blessed to pass along.