Many of us know good people, and a few of us know great people. But for those of us blessed enough to know Susan Marie Gray, we can say we knew the best kind of person of all: someone whose heart had room for everyone she met and who reflected the light of Christ in all that she did.Born on November 16, 1951, in Lyons, KS, to Maurice and Betty Reffner, Susan was the third of seven children. She married the love of her life, Steve Gray, on January 10, 1970, in Odessa, and the couple was blessed with three sons, David Dewayne, Shawn Stephen, and Matthew Shane. They raised their family in Levelland, lived there for 33 years, and founded a company, Gray Wireline. In 2009, they joined a new family company, Renegade, and in 2012 moved to Lubbock.Susan was a devout Catholic, with a strong devotion to Mary, and attended Holy Spirit Church or Our Lady of Grace Church for daily Mass. She was also a Eucharistic minister. Her laugh was contagious. Whenever she and her family got together, the room was always filled with joyful conversation and laughter. Her thoughtfulness knew no bounds. She wrote poems for her grandchildren, was a prayer warrior for all her loved ones, made delicious meals for everyone, gave generously and often, and was always reaching out just to express her love. In 2020, she and Steve celebrated their 50th anniversary with a renewal of their vows, surrounded by countless friends and family.When we lost Susan on February 4, 2021, we lost someone who was a channel of God’s love and peace, someone who made everyone around her feel deeply cherished. She was everything we all wish we could be and ought to be.Preceding her in death were her parents, as well as three brothers, Jerry James, David Lee, and Michael Edwin Reffner. She is survived by her husband Steve; her son David and wife Della; her son Shawn and wife Jami; her son Matt; her sister Carol Trout and husband Mike; her sister Michele Reffner; her brother Chris Reffner and wife Jamie; six grandchildren, Keegan, Tori, Korbin, Brooke, Kaylee and Alexander; and many nieces and nephews.We will gather to recite the Holy Rosary at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. Mass will be celebrated in honor of Susan’s life of 69 years at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2021, at St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in Midland, Texas. Graveside service is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Resthaven Memorial Park in Lubbock, Texas. She passed on Thursday, February 4, 2021. We ask you to sign her virtual guestbook, download the memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing.
