Carol Ann McCue Gray passed away Tues., Mar. 18, 2025, at the age of 82. Ann attended the Marietta Johnson School of Organic Education in Fairhope, Alabama, and graduated from Fairhope High School in 1960. Growing up, she taught dance alongside her mother, “Ms. Roberta” at the Roberta Dance Studio in Fairhope. In her late teens, she danced with the Mobile Civic Ballet and served as choreographer for the Dogwood Trail Court. At age 19 she was the youngest member of the Fairhope Chamber of Commerce. In 1962, Ann met the love of her life, Jim Gray (on a blind date), and they married on Jan. 1, 1964. She attended Auburn University, where she studied elementary education. Later, while living in Springville, Alabama, she choreographed productions for the Springville Community Theater (where she also served as “Minister of Silly Pranks”) and worked with the Springville High School flag corps. She was also a substitute teacher and managed a frame shop in Birmingham.
Apart from her family and friends, Ann loved animals and art. She cared for, nurtured, saved, painted, drew, and cherished a veritable menagerie of animals (including horses, burros, chickens, dogs, cats, and other animals). As a child, she loved riding her horse, Yankee, and playing “King of the Raft” in Fly Creek with her brother, Worth, (while alligators swam nearby). In later life, she cuddled with her cat, Phideaux, as well as her Scottish Terrier, Maggie. Ann’s art is in a variety of mediums, including paint, pen and ink, and sculpture. Most of her work captures animals and landscapes, although those depicting friends and family members are some of her most cherished.
Ann is preceded in death by her parents, Worth Schultz McCue and Roberta Chamberlain Billie; her brother, Worth R. McCue; and her grandparents, Hosea Russell Chamberlain and Hazel Lorena Chamberlain (Roberts), who helped raise her after her father’s untimely death while serving during World War II.
Ann is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, James Oscar Gray, II; two children, Russell Gray (Laura) of Maryland and Katherine Hanrahan (Kevin) of Tennessee; her grandchildren, Carter, Jamison, and Adam; her nephews, Michael McCue (Lori) and Mark McCue (Marcia); as well as special friends, Virginia Strength, Pat Kilpatrick and Donnis Scruggs, Russ and Betty Kilgore, Burton Pruitt, Mary Carolyn McDaniel, and Amanda Manders.
Funeral services will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church, in Robertsdale, AL, on Apr. 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will take place after the service with family and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to Children of the World at https://www.childrenoftheworld.com
Hughes Funeral Home, 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, AL, is assisting the family.
