Barbara Jeanne Gray

Barbara Jeanne Gray age 73, of Paola, Kansas passed away May 13, 2014 at Miami County Medical Center. Barbara was born November 18, 1940, at Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Clinton C. and Cecelia Evelyn (Cassidy) Coffelt. She was united in marriage on June 10, 1972 to James W. Gray at the St. Philip Neri Church in Osawatomie, Kansas. They made their home in Osawatomie for a few years and then moved to their current home in Paola in 1975. Barbara attended the St. Philip Neri Catholic School in Osawatomie and then attended the Kansas School for the Blind in Olathe. She graduated from Osawatomie High School with the class of 1959. She then went to the University of Kansas and later transferred to Marymount College in Salina, Kansas where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in English in 1965. After her graduation she was a member of Sisters of St. Joseph in Concordia, Kansas. She later went to Indiana University graduating from there in 1971 with her Specialist Degree in Education. She began working for Osawatomie Youth Rehabilitation Center in 1971 as a vocational counselor on the State Hospital Campus and then later became the director until it closed. She then became the director of Psychosocial Rehabilitation at Osawatomie State Hospital. Director of Risk Management and Quality Assurance was the next position she held until her retirement in 1999. Barbara was very strong in her faith spending much time in prayer. She enjoyed cooking, reading, flower gardening, helping kids with their educational strengths and weaknesses. She loved time spent with her grandchildren and family. She was a member of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church of Paola where she was actively involved in the Holy Trinity Women's Group. She was also a member of Youth Friends/Panther Corp, and the Paola Optimist Club. Barbara and Jim were named recipients of the Knights of Columbus Family of the Year Award for the Kansas City Diocese in 2006-2007. She was awarded Optimist of the Quarter in the third quarter of 2012. Barbara had also coordinated the Prayer Ministry for several years through Holy Trinity. She was also honored as recipient of the Woman of the Year award in 2012 from the Shamrock Club. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother Donald Coffelt. Survivors include her husband James of the home; daughter and son-in-law Stacy and Tim Rice of Drexel, Missouri; granddaughter Jessica Rice and grandson Bryan Rice both of Drexel; two brothers James (Stacy) Coffelt of Louisburg and Dan (Sharon) Coffelt of Gladstone, Missouri; her sister Marlene (Larry) Denney of Cheney, Kansas; many other relatives and friends. Honorary pallbearers are Bryan & Jessica Rice, Tim Rice, Mike & Judy Welter, Ron & Gloria Thibodeaux, Chris Guenther, Bob & Joanne Franken, and James & Theresa Pritchard. Memorial Contributions are to the Panther Corp/USD 368 or Holy Trinity School Endowment. Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Paola, KS Service: Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:00 AM Visitation: Friday, May 16, 2014 from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM