Deborah “Debbie” Lou Fleming Gray, wife of Sammy Gray, died unexpectedly at their home Friday, May 20, 2016.
Debbie was born April 8, 1969, daughter of Bonnie Lou Sellers Fleming and the late Jerry Wayne Fleming. She was co-editor, along with her sister Robin, of The Fleming Shopper.
Debbie’s contagious smile was like a ray of sunshine to all who knew and loved her. She was famous for “telling it like it was” it didn’t matter if you liked it or not. She was a home body who loved her days off “gown days” spending them with her family. A master at counted cross stitch her prized creation was a stitched portrait of her beloved sons, who she considered to be her greatest achievements in life. She loved spending time with her great niece, Katie, and her constant companion, Chloe, her toy poodle. Debbie loved to cook for her family and for many years wrote the column, “In the Kitchen with Deb” for the Fleming Shopper.
One of her many friends said it best “God made people like Debbie so you wouldn’t forget them” this is so true of this beautiful young woman, she will forever be remembered for her wit, hand gesters and vocabulary.
Debbie, a 1987 graduate of Fleming County High School, was a Kentucky Colonel and an active member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church where she served as one of the Eucharistic ministers and also assisted with several of the bookkeeping duties of the church.
In addition to her husband of 27 years, Debbie is survived by two sons, Daniel Wayne Gray and Andrew Samuel Gray; her special girl, Tiffany Taylor; mother, Bonnie Fleming; sister, Robin James (Jason Watson); niece, Tiffany “Lucy” Christie; nephew, Austin “Goober” James; her great-niece, Katie Tester; and a very special friend, Bill (Billy G.) Colliver. Also surviving are a nephew, Kye James; mother and father-in-law, Judy and Wayne Gray; brother-in-law, Chris Gray, Ella, Garrett, and Ashton Watson; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, Shopper acquaintances, and a host of friends.
Besides her father, Debbie was also preceded in death by her brother-in-law, Timmy James; her grandparents, Theodore and Katherine Sellers; and JW and Elsie Fleming.
Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 24, 2016, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Flemingsburg by the Rev. Josiah Booth celebrant and Rev. Randy Taylor.
Burial will be in Fleming County Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Sammy Gray, Darrin McIntyre, Andrew Gray, Daniel Gray, Chris Gray, Jason Watson and Jeff Vice. Honorary pallbearers will be Austin James, Tiffany Christie, Gary Roberts, Randall Landry, Steven Underwood, Randy Taylor, Bill Colliver, Bonnie Meadows, Cindy Pearson, Tiffany Taylor and Jackie Storey.
Visitation was Monday with Vigil Prayers for the Deceased at Boone-Nickell Funeral Home in Flemingsburg.
In lieu of flowers, a fund for her sons has been established at Peoples Bank of Fleming County.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.boonenickellfuneralhome.com.
