Shannon Gray

Mrs. Mary Shannon Blackburn Gray, 91, published writer, died Saturday, September 21, 2013 in Brevard, North Carolina where she had made her home for the past several years. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11:00 A.M. at Goshen United Methodist Church with Dr. Joe Bowers and Dr. C. Edward Blackburn officiating. Burial will follow in Goshen Cemetery. Following the service, the family will visit with friends in the Goshen United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. The family suggests memorials to Goshen United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, c/o Gaye Peach, 2882 Fly Road, Santa Fe, TN 38482 or Goshen Cemetery Fund, c/o Winfred Baker, 4638 Bass Alderson Road, Williamsport, TN 38487. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Maury County native was the daughter of the late Birton Dean Blackburn and Kitty Leigh Page Blackburn. She was a graduate of Santa Fe High School. On February 1, 1940 she married Douglas Harmon Gray who preceded her in death on December 22, 1994. An avid author, she continued her love of writing until her death having published several children's books based on her childhood in the Goshen Community. She was also a published songwriter with "Georgia Waltz". During her childhood, Mrs. Gray was a member of Goshen United Methodist Church and Santa Fe United Methodist Church. She and Mr. Gray made their home in Warner Robins, Georgia for many years where she was a member of Warner Robins First United Methodist Church. Survivors include sons, Gary (Evelyn) Gray of North Augusta, South Carolina and Larry Gray of Brevard, North Carolina; sister; Dorothe "Dot" (George) Horne of Columbia; brothers, Baxter Blackburn of Columbia; Donald (Polly) Blackburn of Oak Ridge; sister-in-law, Dorothy Gray Sowell of Columbia; grandchildren, Kelly Kazek of Athens, Alabama; Kevin (Susan) Caldwell of Huntsville, Alabama; Eric (Laura) Gray of Temple, Georgia; Chandler Gray of Rockmart, Georgia; step grandchildren, Alison (Will) Kalbscof and Lee (Mary) Jones; great grandchildren, Shannon Kazek, Addison Gray, and Collier Gray; step great grandchildren, William Kalbscof, Charlotte Kalbscof, Cranston Jones, and Carson Jones; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Gayle Gray Caldwell, and sister, Ruth Blackburn Vaughan. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.