NYRA GRAY

Nyra Renita Harris Gray, 83, died on July 4, 2022. She was born to the union of Theodore James Harris and Daisy Lee Cummings Harris on October 27, 1938, in Kansas City, Kas.

She attended Kansas City, Kas., Public schools graduating from Sumner High school in 1956. She enrolled at the University of Kansas where she pledged the undergraduate Delta chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education in 1960, where upon she was employed by the Kansas City Public schools for two years.

In 1962, she journeyed to Seattle to attend the World’s Fair where she was employed as a World’s Fair attendee interviewer. She enrolled at the University of Washington which provided for her initial living accommodations. In the meantime, she applied for a job with the Seattle Public schools and was hired as a teacher at F.A. McDonald Elementary, her first job in a long line of service to the Seattle Public School system. She held various positions as a teacher, librarian, vice-principal, and principal at Montlake Elementary school. She also took time to obtain a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Washington. In the early 1980’s she was appointed to the position of Area Director which she held until her retirement in 1992.

In retirement she served briefly as a supervisor of student teachers at Heritage college and City university. She served on various boards during her career which included the Seattle Aquarium, Central Area Senior center, and the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Education Program Consolidation. She was a lifetime member and Golden Soror in the graduate Delta Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.

She belonged to the local Chapter of Jack & Jill of America and the Sam Bruce Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. She was a member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Washington State & Seattle School Retirees associations. She was a strong supporter of the Museum of History and Industry, The Museum of Flight, Northwest African American Museum, and the National Museum of African American History &

Culture. She was longtime member of the First A.M.E. church and the Women’s Missionary Society.

She was predeceased by her parents; twin brothers, Ronald and Donald Harris; brother, James Harris; and daughter-in-law, Sheila Friend Gray.

She is survived by her husband, Thomas Gray; and two sons, Gavin and Darren; and grandchildren, Renita and Alexander. She was the matriarch of a host of nieces and nephews and leaves many other relatives and close friends.

In lieu of flowers and due to her passion for education she would be inclined to have donations made to the First A.M.E. Church Scholarship Funds. https://www. serenityseattle.com/ obituary/Nyra-Gray