https://www.angelfire.com/mi2/robhenderson/
robnaomi@oceana.net
https://www.angelfire.com/mi2/robhenderson/
robnaomi@oceana.net
May17, 1913- March 14, 2001
Opening Song on CD by Mark Lowery: “Look For Me” requested by Grandson Matthew Walsworth.
Poem by Grand-daughter Teresa Monroe
A Grandchild's Prayer
Thank you God, for giving us the best Grandpa.
He was perfect in every way.
He was the only one for us;
Our dear, sweet Grandpa Gray.
He never was too busy to spend time with us;
Some of those chores could wait.
He’d pile us into the car,
And take us fishing at the lake.
Grandpa had the most wonderful junkyard,
Where we played for hours on end.
We’d drag our treasures into the yard,
Then he’d haul them back again.
He showed us how to carve a whistle
From a little piece of wood.
Some folks might’ve thought we were a handful,
But Grandpa understood!
He took us deer hunting in the hills,
And grew our Christmas trees out back.
And when we killed our first buck,
He’d proudly mount that mighty rack!
Thank you Lord, for giving us a Godly Grandpa.
He walked the straight and narrow way.
He never mocked or cursed You,
But gave thanks and honor to You each day.
When he worked in the barn, or garden,
He’d whistle a favorite hymn.
I suppose when he took his daily walks,
He was spending time with You, his best and dearest friend.
Dear God, we’ll miss our Grandpa,
Now that he’s gone away.
But we’ll follow his example,
And walk the narrow way.
When You prepare our heavenly mansions,
Build them on Grandpa’s street.
And we’ll all rejoice together,
As we worship at Your feet.
I love you Grandpa
Teresa Monroe
In memory of R. Ronald Gray
May 17, 1913--March 14, 2001
How to carve a whistle or a slingshot from a stick, And that making things is more than half the fun;
How to dress out a deer and to clean your own catch, And that you never waste God's creation;
How to split wood and how to live simply, And that you don't need wealth to be happy;
How to bait your hook for trout and how to shoot a bow, And that being outdoors is the best life of all;
How to fix things and usually to put your tools back, And that functionality is more important than appearance;
How to endure frozen toes and how to tell a deer story, And that the best part of hunting is sitting around the camp fire;
How to build a tree house and how to make a dune buggy, And that a child's imagination is more important than a tidy junk yard;
How to work hard while it's daylight and how to take a break, And that the only good things on TV are baseball and the weather;
How to find mushrooms and sometimes eat squirrel meat, And that you always hold your wife's hand for prayer at every meal;
How to laugh at your mistakes and how to take your time, And that seeing your children serve God is the greatest blessing;
How to live in the every-day and to look forward to retirement, And that marriage is for life;
How to never miss church and to take important things seriously, But also that, just for fun, even frogs can play baseball.
A letter for R. Ronald Gray, from a grandson.
May 17, 1913-March 17, 2001
Biographical Summary
We are gathered here today to celebrate the promotion of our dear brother, friend, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and husband. Together we will consecrate the memory of one who was cherished by those within his family; one who was dear to those in the community; and a precious loved one of this church. As we contemplate the life of a man whose faith was not in the seen but the unseen, I trust that we will see the invisible hand of God.
Ronald Gray was born on May 17, 1913 to Sara Edna Jeffries and David Wilson Gray in Manton, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his three sisters: Pearl Martin, Doris Gerard and Allena Greiner. Ron married Leora Shaffer on May 6, 1938. They would have been married sixty-three years in less than two months from now.
Ron Gray also leaves behind four fine children: Bob and Grace, Rev. David and Sarah, Marjorie and Bill Walsworth, and John and Rene. Following them are fifteen grand-children: Jim & Alisha Gray, Dan Gray, Carol & Richard Dulinsky, Rev. Bob and Susie Gray, Steve & Michelle Gray, Chris & Jeff Frye, Becky Gray, Teresa & David Monroe, Ron & Amy Walsworth, Steven & Peggy Walsworth, Andrew Walsworth, Matthew Walsworth, Clint & Amy Gray, Chad & Becky Gray, and Kyra Gray. And then there are twenty-four great-grandchildren.
Ron loved people. And the evidence of that love has been the testimonials of several who have said that he was like a second father to some here or a grandfather to others. Truly, Ron’s love and appreciation of others came from the depths of his heart. A love of this kind is only stirred by his passion for Jesus Christ.
“I know my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes- I, and not another.” Job 19:25-27
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefor we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Psalm 46:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-2
Let us draw unto God in silent prayer as Bob & Carol Wright come to sing “What a Friend.”
Special Music by Bob & Carol Wright- “What a Friend”
O God of life, as we have learned to do in all our experiences, we come to you in the hour of death. We know that you love us, and that You can turn even the shadow if death into the light of morning. Help us now to wait before You with reverent and submissive hearts. Make this a time of opening our eyes and our understanding, and a time of admonition to our hearts and souls. Bless those who feel this sorrow most keenly, and cause the bonds of Christian love to bind us closer together, so that we may share with them that spiritual strength and that faith in God which is ours through the love of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.
Rev. Jack Cooper was Ron and Leora’s pastor for five years from 1965 to 1970. At this time Pastor Cooper will come to share the 23d Psalm and a few thoughts.
Psalm 23- Read by Rev. Jack Cooper
Ron’s life was a testament of Jesus Christ. His and Leora’s trust and faith in the “the old rugged cross” spawned a heritage that has bridged into other generations, to various communities and states, and even to Bogota, Colombia. A few of the grandchildren would like to honor their grandfather and testify of the source of this godly heritage.
Special Music by Grand Children- “The Old Rugged Cross”
Message: A Room With a View
In 2 Samuel 5 King David encountered a problem. You see, he had just been crown and anointed the new king of Israel. He immediately marched on Jerusalem where the Jebusites had control. What gave them domination over the city was that they held the high ground over Israel. In fact, the high ground that seemed to matter most was a place called Mt. Zion. It overlooked Jerusalem from the south and was in the most strategic location.
The Jebusites taunted King David and the Israelites. They proclaimed that even the blind and the lame could protect against any invasion because of their position. Mt. Zion was theirs and nobody was going to be able to take it from them. True, it seemed impossible for David and his men to defeat the Jebusites.
Along the side of the mountain was a shaft or gutter that was cut into the rock where the city’s water supply came from. David devised a plan for his men to utilize this avenue of attack. This was not simply an underground river to follow. This was scaling up an incline, through rushing water, to reach inside the Jebusite compound.
David offered a promotion to the man who would accomplish this challenge. Mt. Zion was captured and King David took residence there and called it the City of David. From this point he was able to look out over the holy city of Jerusalem. And what a view he must have had!
Perhaps the first thing that impressed me when I visited Ron and Leora not long after coming to Shelby, was the panoramic view of Oceana County that was theirs for so many years. They showed me how they could look out and see Pentwater and Lake Michigan from their vantage point. No question, with their home at the highest point in the county, they could see for miles around while going up-hill or down-hill.
Just as King David had a view of the holy city of Jerusalem, so our departed brother now has a room with a view looking out over the City of God. That place of unclouded day in Beulah land where there is no more weeping or crying. Today, even though we miss him dearly, Ron lives in the very presence of Jesus Christ.
You see, Jesus made a promise. And with Jesus, a promise made is a promise kept. He said: “In my Father’s house are many rooms. I go to prepare a place for you.”
He prepared a room for Ronald Gray. A room with a view.
Ron’s life was lived to the fullest. He loved to hunt and fish. But more importantly, he loved to hunt and fish with his kids or grandkids, or his surrogate children and grandchildren that some of you would claim. He was a man who loved life and loved people. His impact never will be fully realized. The times of fishing or hunting with family and friends was a time of sharing love with others. There is no question about his Christian faith.
He was man of quiet resolve and conviction. He loved God first. And he lived his life to honor the One who saved him from his sins at an early age. Ron believed that Jesus Christ died for him. And from this salvation experience sprung a life of unwavering determination to serve the Lord through his daily life, his family , and his church.
His unheralded life was one lived for Jesus first.
In a day when commitment seems to be at an all-time low and divorce at an all-time high, his dedication to his wife Leora seems misplaced. Together for over sixty-two years, they gave meaning and definition to the phrase “till death do you part.” I believe that their marriage is one to be commended. Thank you, Leora, for your and Ron’s commitment to one another for the vast majority of your lifetimes together. You have set an example to the rest of the community and especially to your family. God’s gracious hand saw you through.
Ron has received an inheritance for his faith in Jesus Christ: he now has a room with a view.
But really, when you think about it, did Ron ever have a room without a view? You see, for us to live a life of faith- from first to last- requires us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and taking up His cross on a moment by moment basis. And it is with this in mind that we can understand that our view of life is by faith through the lens of the cross.
Ron has always had a room with a view. Ron has always dwelled on Mt. Zion. Ron did so in the spiritual realm.
We live our lives, and yes, even our Christian lives emphasizing the physical and material realm. But Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world. We need to understand that our faith should take us from living for this world and the things of this world, to living our lives for the kingdom of heaven that is outside of this physical galaxy. What brought Jesus to the cross was God’s desire that our dead spirit be regenerated to new life by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I love Hebrews 12:18, 22- “You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire... but you have come to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God.”
Our home is not in this world. Let’s face it, this world is coming apart at the seams. When we strive harder to make things better, we hear of school shootings, new physical diseases, and stock market jitters. There is nothing in this world that is a sure thing. But one thing we do know, and that is there is a loving God who is always there and is not silent. Our home here is only temporary. God wants to provide us a room with a view.
And this city of God is only a prayer of faith away.
You see, the mountain that can be touched is burning with fire. This mountain, which is Mount Sinai, refers to the old covenant that God instituted so that mankind could understand that sin has its price and that price is so great there is not one single thing a man can do to save himself from God’s wrath against sin. Yes, the Old Testament saints had the Law of Moses, they had the Ten Commandments, and all of the ceremonies and sacrifices. These were instituted by God himself but they could not atone for the sin. Their faith had to be ahead to the promise of a coming Messiah who would provide a way of escape from sin. The mountain that could be touched was one of judgment and eternal damnation.
The mountain you cannot touch is Mount Zion. Mount Zion became a symbol of God’s new covenant. This new covenant would come through the man Jesus Christ. When you receive Jesus Christ into your life you have come to Mount Zion, in more than a symbolic sense. You join thousands of angels who are rejoicing. You become a first-born with all of the rights and privileges of a first-born in the kingdom of God. You become a part of a family of God where there is no little brother or little sister because everyone is recognized as the firs-born. And you do so, not by the blood of Abel whose blood cried out for justice and revenge, but you come to Mount Zion by the precious blood of Jesus who sprinkles us with His blood that cries out for love and mercy.
And this can only happen by your faith in the death of Jesus on the cross.
Ron was known for his creative arts. His taxidermy was impressive. The baseball team made of frogs and the “Whatizzit?” was the family favorite. These showed the depth of love, creativity and humor that he possessed. Taxidermy is just simply the hide of a particular animal stretched over a mold of that animal. You see the fur and eyes and such, but the insides of the real squirrel or rabbit are long gone.
Ron also carved. He could take a piece of wood and create amazing statues that could be either serene or humorous. His consistent and steady hand, was a skill that showed throughout whatever he touched.
Ron also fixed things. He was always repairing vehicles or machinery on his own in order to save money. Being a part of that depression era, he learned to make due with what was on hand. A home made paint job would do the trick and was always so much cheaper.
Without your dead spirit being made alive by Christ, you are like a stuffed animal. You might look well groomed on the outside but there is nothing but emptiness on the inside. What God wants to do is take your empty life and fill it with His Holy Spirit so that he can carve something beautiful. All of your confusion and pain, all of the hurts and anxieties, He can fix and carry you on to His purpose.
And here is the challenge I must leave you today. “See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks.” Do not allow your heart to be darkened and your eyes to be covered that you do not see or hear the Lord speak. The family wants so much for you to share in this godly heritage. But more than that, God wants so much for you to be a part of His kingdom today.
Jesus wants to reward you a room with a view.
What must you do?
Accept God’s offer of salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. It’s free and for you.
Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Believe that Jesus died for your sins and arose from the dead so that you also can be risen to new life in Christ.
Confess your sins and shortcomings to God. “I am a sinner who cannot earn one moment in the presence of God.”
Dedicate your entire life to God by the power of the Holy Spirit. You cannot live one single minute of holy living for God without the Holy Spirit. It is by grace that you are saved.
Early in Ron’s life, he accepted God’s offer of salvation. He believed on Jesus Christ. He confessed his sins and then dedicated his life to God’s service.
What about you? Do you want to one day not only see Jesus face to face but also our friend, Ron Gray?
Closing music by Bob & Carol Wright- “In the Sweet By and By”
