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Helen Smith Gray

Obituaries | The Tube City Almanac | July 21, 2021

Helen Smith Gray, age 86 of McKeesport, passed away on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 in UPMC McKeesport Hospital. Born August 30, 1934 in McKeesport, she was a daughter of the late Jeno and Mary (Hollis) Schmidt.

A retiree of KMart in Pleasant Hills and a former member of Wesley United Methodist Church in White Oak, Helen worked in her later years as a lunchlady for McKeesport School District and was a member of both the Boston Vets and the CFU Lodge # 146 of Versailles. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing bingo, going to the casino, playing video poker, playing cards with her family, crafting, sewing, quilting, and going out socializing and dancing with her dear companion of 25 years Albert DiBattista. But, her proudest accomplishment was her six beautiful children and all of her grandchildren and their families.

Besides her parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband, the late Donald E. Gray; her daughter Cindy (Tom) Vamosi; her grandson Donald (Erin) Gray, III; and her siblings Margaret Javorsky, Teresa L. Schultz, and Mary, Victor, Jim, Alfred, and Wayne Schmidt. Besides her companion, she is survived by her children Cheryl (Edwin) Leber of Sewickley Twp., Donald (Laura) Gray, Jr. of Elizabeth Twp., Terry (Michael) Bashioum of Wyano, Bonnie (Steven) Richards of Greensburg, and Meyer "Chris" (fiancee Kelly) Gray of Myrtle Beach, SC; her grandchildren Jenna (Mark) Leber-Morreale, Adrienne (Dave) Purbaugh, Alexandra (George) Zanic, Julianne Gray, Melissa (Jeremy) Conaway, Amanda Bashioum, Michael Bashioum, Jr., Heath and Jordan Richards, Stephanie Batchelor, Errika Hartzell, Chyna and Greyson Gray, Ashley Vamosi, and Laci Finch; her twenty great-grandchildren; her two great-great-grandchildren; her special sister-in-law Kay Schmidt; and also many nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received in the Daniel F. Bekavac Funeral Home and Crematory, 4504 Walnut St., Versailles Borough, McKeesport, PA 15132 (412-678-3454) on Friday, July 23, 2021 from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM. A Funeral Service will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, July 24, 2021 at 10 AM with Rev. Ronald Calabro officiating. Procession and burial will follow to West Newton Cemetery, West Newton. www.bekavacfuneralhome.com

Originally published July 21, 2021.

Other deaths:
"John W. Guy" || "Jack F. Holsing"