June 24, 1966 ~ August 20, 2011
Resided in:
Torrance, CA
Michelle Lee Gray
It is with deep sorrow that the family of Michelle Lee Gray announces the passing of their beloved family member on Saturday, August 20, 2011, at the age of 45. She was born in Redondo Beach, CA on June 24, 1966. Michelle spent most of her life in the South Bay; being raised in Redondo Beach, and owning her home in Torrance. She was an alumna of Franklin Elementary School, Adams Middle School and Redondo Union High School. Growing up close to the beach fostered in her a love of the sunshine and the outdoors, and kept her close to the area where many of her friends and family still reside.
Michelle worked for the County of Los Angeles in L.A.'s Court System for 22 years, where she was an esteemed colleague, supervisor and mentor. Generosity does not begin to describe the kindness and giving that she showed others, both in her professional and personal life. She was always there for anyone close to her, without regard to the time of day or the effort required. Michelle thrived on helping others, not only during the difficult times but on a day-to-day basis as well.
Her interests included an immense love of music, especially Country, and she would oftentimes dance with her dogs to the music of her idol, Rod Stewart. She had a passion for traveling both throughout the U.S. and more recently in Europe, where she made friends in Germany whom she visited on a recent trip. Wherever she went she was always easily able to make friends through her kind smile and genuinely charming personality. Michelle had sincere interest in living her life to the fullest and in creating meaningful relationships with the people around her. She was a humble woman and loved to laugh, even at herself sometimes. Anyone who spent time with Michelle knew her love of sharing a glass of wine and foods from different cultures with her friends.
Michelle is survived by parents, Bonnie and Larry Gray; son, Nicholas Grant; daughter, Ashley Ivey; sisters, Annette Gray and Patti Vorndran; she was aunt to Jessica & Jasmine Bowlin, Jase Tautai, Hannah, Hailey, Allie, Jack and Daniel Vorndran. Though she will be missed every day by all of those who knew her, they will remain ever grateful for the time they shared with this beautiful, bright and generous woman. A gathering of friends and family will be held in Rice's Chapel in Torrance on Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 10:00 am. Burial will be private. Celebration of life to follow with location to be announced.
Guestbook
My heart goes out to the entire Gray, Grant and Ivey family. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I lost a beautiful friend whom I will dearly miss. Michelle you will always have a special place in my heart forever. I will miss your beautiful smile and laughter, you always had a way of making a sad situation into a happy one. I will always cherish all the fond memories I have of you, I love you Michelle.
My deepest condolences to the Gray family. I am so very sad to hear of Michelle’s passing. She was a wonderful sweet lady and I will dearly miss her beautiful smile and her great big laugh. I always enjoyed seeing her and talking with her. Always so positive and upbeat, everything just seemed better with her around. She was truely one of a kind!
I thought of you with Love today, but that is nothing new I thought about you yesterday and days before that too I think of you in silence & often speak your name All I have are memories in a picture frame GOD has you in his keeping I have you in my heart Your memory is my keepsake, I miss you!
I am so very sorry for your families loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you. We love you Nick
To the family of our beloved Michelle, our hearts go out to all of you. We will miss her company and loving friendship. May time allow your hearts to heal.
Do not stand at my grave and weep.. I am not there. I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awake in the morning’s hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft star-shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry.. I am not there. I did not die. Sleep peacefully, Michelle, till we meet again….
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Michelle. She was a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. I will miss her smile and laughter and the talks we had. Goodby my Friend.
Constantly thinking, never to be the same, the tears fall quickly just hearing your name. …Silence is golden yet not anymore silence brings thoughts I just can’t ignore. The nights are sleepless, dreams out of reach. Crying in my pillow to you I beseech. Surrounded by family, I still feel alone. My heart is so empty, this pain I must own. I wish I could hug you and just see your face. But now I have memories to stand in your place. Gone but not forgotten, that’s what they say. Of course that is true… but if only you could of stayed!
Book of Ecclesiastes – A Time For Everything To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboreth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God. I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him. That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past. Our Thoughts & Prayers go the the Family & Friends of Michelle, she will be dearly missed!
Michelle you will be so missed. It doesn’t seem possible that you can be gone. So many memories of you and Nina at my house. You will be missed and loved forever.
Love you, Nick. I am so very sorry. If you ever need me, I’m here. 704-898-3393. xoxo, Stephen
Michelle remember when you worked for the city of Redondo, and we stopped by to say hi with Nina’s mom Emma and our dad and step mom that we just met after 30 years at the Redondo Pier. Rest in peace, your a dear friend of our family. Nina Lang’s uncle Samuel Martin
Sympathy to all the family. It was a pleasure knowing Michelle and will always remember her lovely smile. R.I.P.
to the gray family,please accept my condolences on your loss.michelle was a very fun and upbeat person,and she will be truely missed..my prayers go out to her family
Michelle was a very important part our family… we met when she was a teen. I’ve seen her through good times and bad. I am Godmother to her daughter, Ashley. I can honestly say that Michelle enriched my life with her friendship. She will be missed so so much. XOXOXOX to you my friend… Rest in Peace… until we see each other again.
Annette, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. You have already been through to much this last year and I am so sorry for your loss. There are no words to take away the pain you are feeling. Please lean on those that love you and remember all the wonderful times you spent together.
My heart goes out to family and friends. We shared many laughs together and she will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
●▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬♥▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬ ♥ There are moments in life when you wish you could bring someone down from Heaven…and spend the day with them just one more time, give them one more hug, kiss them goodbye or hear their voice again. One more chance to say I Love you. In Our Hearts in remembrance of loved ones gone but never forgotten! ♥ ●▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬♥▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬ ♥
We will miss your smile your warm heart and generous spirit..forever young and forever in our heart and soul..RIP Michelle love LeeAnn
Our heart goes out to your family, Michelle, we will miss seeing your beautiful smile. I sure wish we could have one last day, one last laugh….one last memory. Until we meet again, Michelle and DeWayne Paramore
My heart goes out to all the friends and family of Michelle.
Dear Nick Dear Henry, Dear Family and Frieds from Michelle, we are so Sorry about it, my Enlish is not so good, but i want to tell that we loved her and her lough and she was so a good good women we liked her. we are with u all. We think of her in Germany…
We love and miss you dearly. Good bye dear friend. We will see your sweet smile everytime we hear Rod Stewart’s music. Love, Ishiki Family