Howard Gray, 62, one of Richland County's most prominent citizens, passed away suddenly Saturday night, March 6, 1965 while attending a meeting at the Fountains Lodge in Olney. Funeral services at Summers-Rainey Funeral Home with Rev. John Annable officiating with burial in Haven Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Gray, who had been president of the Richland County Farm Bureau for the past five years, was attending a meeting of the Farm Bureau board and committees with Congressman George E. Shipley, to discuss the status of farm legislation. He suffered an attack near the conclusion of the meeting and was rushed to Richland Memorial Hospital where he was dead on arrival.

Mr. Gray lived near Passport in Denver Twp. on Noble, Route 2. He was born in Denver Township August 13, 1902 son of P.B. and Mollie Byrne Gray. On December 29, 1932 he married Maye Rich.  One of Richland County's most active and civic-minded citizens, he graduated from Olney High School in 1923 where he starred in football. He attended Bradley University at Peoria and was on the football team there. Mr. Gray was a lifelong member of the Passport Methodist Church and was active in church affairs.

He taught school in both Olney and Noble and for a time operated a store in Passport.

Surviving are his wife, Maye; a son, Howard Gray, Jr. of Noble; three grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Grace Pflaum of Washington, Ill. and a brother, Herbert Gray of Glide, Ore.

One brother, Dr. Robert Gray preceded him in death.

Published in Olney Daily Mail (IL) ~ March 8, 1965