Mary Needles Mcjunkin-Gray
August 30, 1921 - December 19, 2014
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Mary Needles Mcjunkin-Gray
August 30, 1921 - December 19, 2014
Obituary
Mary needles mcjunkin-gray died december 19, 2014. She was born august 30, 1921 in jacksonville, fl to enoch r. Needles and ethel s. Needles, a middle child in a family of five girls and one boy.
She grew up in summit, nj, where as a young person, she distinguished herself as an accomplished pianist. She graduated from wellesley college as a religion major. In boston, she met her husband-to-be, howard philip (mac) mcjunkin, who later graduated from mit in aeronautical engineering.
During wwii, she worked in veterans’ hospitals caring for wounded soldiers while mac was in the service. After the war, mary and mac moved to charleston, wv, where he worked at mcjunkin corporation following his father’s death. They raised four sons, who were the pride of her life. She was a dearly affectionate, generous, and loving mom and valued her close friends. When her sons were young, she spent most of her time supporting their many sports and educational activities. She and her husband emphasized kindness, character and service to others above all else. Her door was always open to her friends and young people at all times, with a continual supply of toll house cookies at half-time of pick-up basketball and football games.
Mary was also known for her philanthropic and volunteer activities. She was an active member of first presbyterian church for over 60 years, and actively involved in women of the church. Through her involvement with first presybterian, she was an original co-founder of daymark, inc. And remained a board member for many years. She also served as a long-term volunteer in the recovery room at charleston memorial hospital and as president of the kanawha medical society auxiliary. After a 32 year marriage, mac died in 1975. In 1980 mary married david b. Gray, m.D. They were strong supporters of the camc cancer center. David died in april of 2014. In recent years, health problems could not keep her from showing unconditional love and generosity to her family and community.
She is survived by three sons: howard p. “mac” mcjunkin, jr. (mary lou) of wilmington, nc; brittain mcjunkin, m.D. (judy); james e. Mcjunkin, m.D. (mary); daughter-in-law callen mcjunkin; all of charleston, wv; ten grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren; sisters carolyn homer of kennebunk beach, me and sally toffey of vero beach, fl; david’s three children, his four grandchildren, and one great grandchild. She was pre-deceased by husbands howard p. Mcjunkin and david b. Gray, m.D., and by her third son thomas n. Mcjunkin (callen).
The mcjunkin family would like to express very special gratitude to the caretakers who were devoted to her: gunna early, darlene bonecutter, pam scherer, mia bailey, susan paitsel, kala bonecutter, sharon rollyson, and sandra sparks. The family would also like to express special gratitude to mary ashcraft.
A memorial service and reception will be held at 11 a.M. Saturday, january 3, 2015 at first presbyterian church.
Memorial contributions may be made to one of the following: education elevators fund c/o gkvf at 900 lee st. East, po box 3041, charleston wv 25331; camc cancer center, 3412 staunton ave, charleston, wv 25304; first presbyterian church, 1600 leon sullivan way, charleston, wv 25301; or hospice care, 1606 kanawha blvd w, charleston, wv 25387.
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4 responses to Mary Needles Mcjunkin-Gray
Heather Mccarthy says:
August 10, 2021
Location: Dallas Texas
Such A Beautiful Lady Inside And Out. She Has Been An Inspiration To Us All. She Will Be Dearly Missed.
Myra Chiang, Md says:
August 10, 2021
Relationship: Friend
Location: Charleston West Virginia
I Am So Grateful To Have Known Mrs. Mary Mcjunkin Gray. I Got To Know Her Through Her Youngest Son, Dr. Jim Mcjunkin, Who Recruited Me For A Faculty Position At Wvu, Charleston When He Was The Department Chairman In 1988. My Very First Christmas In Charleston, He Invited Me To His Home And Met Mrs. Mcjunkin Gray For The First Time. She Was A Beautiful And Elegant Lady But Was So Warm And Loving. I Will Never Forget The Beautiful Antique Necklace She Gave Me For Christmas Even Though It Was Our First Meeting. Through The Years, I Saw Her Occasionally And I Was Always Struck By Her Grace, Humility, Intelligence And Incredible Memory. In 2008, I Became The Recipient Of An Endowment Of Professorship In Pediatric Specialty Care. The Donor Chose To Be Anonymous At That Time But I Later Discovered That It Was Mrs. Mcjunkin Gray. That Was Very Typical Of Mrs Mcjunkin Gray And The Mcjunkin Family . They Give Because They Believe In A Cause But They Do It Quietly Without Much Fanfare. Sometime In 2013, I Visited Mrs Mcjunkin Gray And Gave Her A Silk Scarf. She Was So Excited And Was Very Appreciative And Made Me Feel That It Was The Best Gift Ever And Wore It To Lunch That Day. That Christmas, When Her Memory Was Already Fading, My Daughter And I Visited Her, The First Thing She Said Was “Do You Recognize The Scarf I’M Wearing?”. I Was So Touched By Her Sweetness. Although Mrs Mcjunkin Gray Leaves Behind Many Legacies, Her Best Legacy Is How She Raised Her Sons Who All Grew Up Like Her, Successful Yet Kind, Humble And Altruistic And Who Will No Doubt Carry On Her Work. I Am Very Grateful That I Have Known Mrs Mcjunkin Gray. She Is A Very Special Lady And One Of A Kind. I Wish I Had Visited Her More. I Am Extremely Honored To Have Been The First Howard P And Mary Needles Mcjunkin Distinguished Professor Of Special Care In A Pediatric Subspecialty.
Deborah Lewis Rodecker says:
August 10, 2021
Relationship: Friend
Location: Charleston West Virginia
Bob And I Are Unable To Be There On Saturday For The Service As We Have A Previous Commitment In North Carolina. I Am So Sorry About That. What A Lovely Lady. She Gave Luke, Our Son, His Hand Knit Christmas Stocking, The Year He Came To Us, 1981. She Invited Us For Dinner To Meet Mac And Mary Lou At Edgewood When We First Moved To Charleston. She Made Our Life Here Better, And We Have Always Been Grateful. Love To You All.
Michael Wehrle says:
August 10, 2021
Relationship: Cousin
Location: Jackson Wyoming
A Tremendous Lady, Fabulous Mother, And A Great Friend.