Maynard Max Gray age 84 of Sturgis, Michigan was surrounded by his family Thursday evening, October 18, 2018 when he passed away at the Sturgis Hospital. He was born July 17, 1934 in LaGrange, Indiana son of the late Myrten and Beulah (Johnson) Gray. Maynard resided in the LaGrange County, Indiana and Sturgis, Michigan area most of his life. 20 years living in LaGrange County was at the home he loved on Dallas Lake. He also lived for a short time in Fort Wayne while gaining… Read More » his apprenticeship in Tool & Die Making with the International Harvester Company and in Niles when he accepted a job with the Bendix Corporation. On May 30, 1992 he married Dixie Nidiffer in Elkhart, Indiana. Maynard was a Tool & Die Maker by trade and retired from Machine-Rite Products in Lagrange, Indiana following 18 years of dedicated employment. At the time of his retirement he held the position of Supervisor. Following his retirement he owned and operated Gray’s Commercial Lawn Care Service for several years. A job he considered more as a hobby than work. Maynard was an avid fisherman and especially loved ice fishing. He also enjoyed going to auctions. He is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 26 years: Dixie; three daughters: Kathi (John) Carney, Kelly Hostetler and Kim (Steve) MacGregor all of Sturgis, Michigan; two sons: Kevin (Deb) Gray of Sturgis, Michigan and Kris Gray of Fort Wayne, Indiana; 11 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; one step-daughter: Brenda (Jeff) Sanger of Oshkosh, Wisconsin; two step-sons: Scott (Maggie) Sanders of Apollo Beach, Florida and Gary (Lisa) Sanders of Stevensville, Michigan; six step-grandchildren; one sister: Sharon (Jim) Pieratt of LaGrange, Indiana and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; three sisters: Lois Henson, Geraldyne Walker, Donna Richmond; four brothers: Walter “Pete” Gray, Myrten “Bub” Gray, Lester Gray and an infant brother. The family will receive friends from 2:00-6:00 P.M. Sunday and 10:00 – 11:00 A.M. Monday at the Rosenberg Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-3284. Funeral services celebrating the life of Maynard M. Gray will begin at 11:00 A.M. Monday at the funeral home. The Rev. Jeanne Garza of the First United Methodist Church of Sturgis will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis. The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mr. Gray’s memory consider St. Joseph County United Way, P.O. Box 577, Centreville, MI 49032 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 350 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 20, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 or the charity of one’s choice. The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Maynard Max Gray 2018.
Death notice for the town of: Sturgis, state: Michigan