Ruth Ellen Murphy Neal Gray

Ruth Ellen Murphy Neal Gray, 93, died Friday, September 2, 2016, in Hereford.

Graveside services were held on Monday, September 5, 2016, in Citizens Cemetery in Clarendon with Rev. Kirk Watson, officiating.

Memorial services were also held on Monday, September 5, 2016, in Park Place Towers in Amarillo with Jerry Hopkins, officiating

Arrangements were under the direction of Robertson Funeral Directors of Clarendon.

Ruth was born October 30, 1922, in Paducah, Kentucky to J.W. & Ora Lee Murphy.  She was a longtime Panhandle resident.  She graduated from Amarillo High School in 1941, then attended Amarillo College and worked at Amarillo National Bank.  She then married Gayle Neal in 1945 and moved to Dawn and was active in the Dawn Music Club, Study Club, and active in Dawn school.  She moved to Hereford in 1959 and left Hereford and moved to Clarendon in 1963 where she was the owner of Tumbleweed Gift Shop and Childrens Clothing.  She moved to Amarillo in 1976 where she lived until her death.  She worked at Madison’s, Kitchen Gallery and Little Brown House for 20 years as a bridal consultant at each store.  September 4, 2003 she married Johnny Gray of Gray’s Studio.  They would have celebrated their 13th Wedding Anniversary September 4, 2016.  They were friends since high school and married at 80 and 83 and was hoping for 4 to 5 years and were blessed with 13 wonderful years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Gayle Neal; 2 brothers, Joe and Pat Murphy; a sister, Louise Murphy Payne; a son in law, Stephen Coneway; and a granddaughter, Leah Ruth DeLaney.

She is survived by her husband, Johnny Gray of Amarillo; a son, William Everett “Bill” Neal and wife Carolyn of Tomball; 2 daughters, Nan Carol Neal Coneway of Hereford and Carrie Lee Neal DeLaney and husband David of Kingsville; a step daughter, Patti Wills and husband Don of Amarillo; 9 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; 2 step grandchildren; 5 step great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The family request memorials be sent to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch or Park Place Towers in Amarillo.