Connie Gray

Connie Jorene Gray, age 74, of Owatonna, MN, while battling cancer passed away suddenly on December 21, 2016 at United Hospital in St. Paul surrounded by her family.

A celebration of Connie's life will be held on Saturday June 17, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home, 607 2nd Ave. NW, Faribault. Interment will be at the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Owatonna. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to American Cancer Society or the choice of the donor in memory of Connie.

Connie Jorene was born on July 28, 1942, to Birchard and Marie (Schmale) Buss, in Ravenna, NE. She graduated high school from Waseca School of Agriculture. Connie went on to receive office training through a secretarial school in Owatonna. She began working as a secretary in Minneapolis. After receiving a Nursing Aid certification, she began to work at the Anoka State Hospital. There she met and married Charles Blumer. They had 3 daughters then divorced. Connie later met and married Jerome (Jerry) Gray and had a son.

Connie's priority was caring for her family. She enjoyed sewing, gardening, canning, and crocheting. She also worked for many Owatonna businesses such as: Heart Central Bakery, CJ Standard Oil, Cedarview Nursing Home, and Bridgeman's. In the late 1980's moved to Monticello, MN, and worked at a local McDonald's. Connie helped care for her grandchildren living with her son's family in Italy, Virginia Beach, Maine, and North Dakota. Connie then moved back to Owatonna. She became a full time caregiver for her father.

She is survived by her four children, Eydie (Greg) Hauer of Owatonna, Janet Polley of Muscatine, Iowa, Teresa (Charles) Crooks of Owatonna, and Andrew (Jeri) Gray of Jamestown, ND; 20 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by husband Jerome Gray; parents, Birchard and Marie Buss; grandson, Matthew Crooks; and great granddaughter, Ava Liverseed.