Dianne Gray (Plainview)

Esther Dianne Gray, 69, of Plainview passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at her residence after a long battle with pulmonary hypertension and interstitial lung disease. 

Dianne was born at the Ft. Carson Army Base Hospital on August 8, 1955 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to Ernest and Mildred Ramey. She met Gary Owen Gray at First Southern Baptist Church in Colorado Springs while he was attending the church during the time he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Ft. Carson, Colorado. After dating for some time, they married at the Northside Baptist Church in Colorado Springs on April 27, 1973. Shortly after the marriage, Gary was reassigned to the 8th Army in Seoul, South Korea, and Dianne joined her husband in Seoul. There in Korea they spent the first two years of their married life experiencing military life and the Korean culture. After returning to the United States from South Korea and upon her husband's discharge from the military, Dianne attended Wayland Baptist University along with her husband, obtaining a bachelor's degree in theatre and psychology. After finishing her degree and while her husband pursued his Ph.D. graduate work at Texas Tech University, Dianne took advantage of her theatrical talents and impeccable diction to work as a disc jockey at various radio stations in Plainview and Lubbock, Texas. 

To accommodate her husband's academic career, Dianne and the family moved frequently. Dianne managed those moves flawlessly, and once the first child was born to the marriage, Dianne dedicated herself to the care of her family and to the raising of her children. The marriage was blessed with three boys, David Brian Gray, Jason Andrew Gray and Paul Michael Gray. Dianne homeschooled Brian and Jason for much of their education. Sadly, Paul passed away at 7 years of age due to lymphoma. The lymphoma was caused by anti-rejection drugs, complications from a bilateral lung transplant Paul received when he was 16 weeks of age. Dianne was a faithful nurse and care-giver to Paul for the entirety of his short life.

Dianne loved knitting sweaters and making knit creations for family and friends. She also loved playing computer games online with her son, Brian. Dianne relished leading her ladies' prayer group meetings each week here in Plainview, and she will be remembered as one who lived for Christ, who valued the power of prayer, and who gave of herself generously to meet the needs of others. 

Dianne was preceded in death by a son, Paul Michael Gray; sister, Connie McCorkle; and mother, Mildred Ramey.

Dianne is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Gary Owen Gray; two sons, David Brian Gray and Jason Andrew Gray; half-sister, Brandan Merrick; grandsons Tristan Edward Gray, Sawyer Reese Gray and Hudson Taylor Gray; sister-in-law, Debra Ruth Gilas; brother-in-law, Nick Gilas; brother-in-law, Joel Timothy Gray; father-in-law, Walter Ralph Gray and mother-in-law, Joycelene Gray. 

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Friday, February 14, 2025 in Parklawn Memorial Gardens with Pastor Will Fish officiating. Arrangements are under the care of Kornerstone Funeral Directors of Plainview. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gary and Dianne Gray Endowed Scholarship at Wayland Baptist University are appreciated. To make contributions, visit https://www.wbu.edu/give/give.htm and choose the Gray Scholarship from the pull-down menu of support choices. For questions, contact Teresa at (806) 291-3427.