Sheryl Gray Obituary

Sheryl Jean "Sherry" (Braumiller) Gray

Oct 6, 1942 - Apr 14, 2023

Scottsdale, AZ

Sheryl Jean "Sherry" (Braumiller) Gray, 80, of Scottsdale, Arizona, passed away peacefully early Friday morning, April 14, 2023, at home surrounded by her family with her husband holding her hand.

She was born Oct. 6, 1942, in Delaware, Ohio, to Arthur Everett and Nina Maxine (Manter) Braumiller, and graduated from Olentangy High School in 1960. She met James B. Gray (Jim) at The Ohio State University and married shortly after graduation in 1964. She was a life member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and life-long fan of Ohio State Buckeye football. Sherry enjoyed traveling and she and her family lived in many places, highlighted by residing in Brussels, Belgium, during the 1990s.

Sherry was a "social butterfly" at heart and enjoyed being involved with and volunteering for organizations. No matter where she lived, she served organizations, often as an officer on committees. While living in Sandusky, she was president of Sandusky Concert Association, active member of Merry-Go-Round Museum from its inception in 1990, and golfer at Plum Brook Country Club. She had a zest for life and enjoyed time living in Ohio, Texas, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky, and Arizona, where she has maintained life-long friends.

Sherry earned a degree in elementary education and taught in various states. She was active during Jim's retirement after they moved to Scottsdale, where she was a passionate and devoted member of Palo Verde Republican Women where she loved welcoming new members and was most loved in that role. Reading was one of her passions and she enjoyed her Tuesday Evening Book Club and playing Mahjong with close friends. Sherry enjoyed being in the water and spent many days in water aerobics with her friends at their community center. She was active until the onset of her illness in Nov., 2022, and fought and persevered to her last breath.

Sherry is survived by her loving husband, Jim, to whom she was married nearly 59 years; two daughters, Tiffany Lyn Gray of Mesa, Arizona, (formerly of Sandusky), and Tracey Noelle Gray of Scottsdale; brother, Glen Scott (Susie) Braumiller of Waldo, Ohio; and nieces and nephews.

No matter where Sherry lived, she easily made close friends and always created a warm and loving home for her husband and daughters. She was cherished by family, friends, and acquaintances alike for her genuinely kind, warm, and welcoming heart, her quick yet gentle wit, and for always being the first to help friends and family in need. She held a strong belief in God and was a devoted member of Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale. Sherry was an amazing and devoted mother to her daughters who will deeply miss her, and to Jim, who will forever be her soulmate.

Arizona services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Messinger Pinnacle Peak Mortuary, 8555 E. Pinnacle Peak Road, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85255. Visitation was 4-6 p.m. Monday, April 17, 2023.

Ohio services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Snyder Rodman Funeral Center, 101 Valleyside Drive, West William Street, Delaware, Ohio, 43015. Visitation will be 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Cheshire Cemetery, Cheshire Road (County Road 72), Berlin Township, Ohio, 43015.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Sherry's name to Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, Arizona, 85014, 602-530-6900.