Charles William Gray

1912 - 2007

Location	Northampton
Age	94 years
Cause of Death	Natural Causes
Date of Birth	28/08/1912
Date of Death	08/06/2007
Visitors	314 since 11/06/2007
Creator	Steve Gray

This site is dedicated to my Grandfather, Charles (Charlie) William Gray, who passed on peacefully in his sleep at 1am on Friday, June 8th 2007 at the Kettering General Hospital.

Born in Northampton in 1912, Charles was married to Glady's for 72 years and described the success of a long marriage down to regular arguments.

Born during WW1, he grew up to work in a factory machining metal. Always full of ideas and initiative he became one of their valued workers. Always the handy man he made many things most of us wouldn't dream of attempting to make ourselves. No job was too big and no job he couldn't handle. He fought during WW2 and had many tales to tell his grandchildren of the nights he would be stationed on the machine guns searching the skys for the German planes as they flew over Scotland where he was based. After the war he worked on the railways helping build the Northampton line as it is today.

There were 3 passions in his life, excluding the wife that is - Fishing, Cricket and Football. As a child I always remember going to visit my grandparents on a Sunday evening and nan would be gutting the fish pap had caught. He won many trophys for fishing and was secretary of the Britannia Anglers Club for many years. He was also a lifetime member of the Nene Angling Club. When he wasn't fishing he was up the country ground watching the cricket and if it wasn't cricket it was football. He saw his first Cobblers game in 1923 and was still watching them up to the end of the last season and the good old age of 94.

As time went by his wife Glady's slowly became immobile following a failed hip replacement and Charles was left to care for the two of them. He did everything you could ask a man to do - all the cooking, the shopping, the cleaning - everything.

Sadly, as time went by his memories started to fade. The last few years were the hardest for us as he no longer could remember who any of his family were - not even his wife but he did remember his childhood years and could still have us in fits of laughter telling us tales of when he was a young boy.

In 2005 Charles and his wife Glady's moved into Freestones Care Home as with his memory fading, he was no longer able to care for himself, let alone his wife. His last few years at Freestones were happy years and I can't thank the staff there enough for taking care of them both - giving them someone to talk to and making him laugh. He may not have known where he was but he was always singing and dancing when I went to visit so he was obviously happy which is the most important thing in the world when your memories are fading. My personal thanks go to Amelia, Emily & Sarah as well as all the other staff at Freestones who cared for him around the clock. I'm sure they will miss him as much as we do.

Charles is survived by his wife Gladys, 3 sons (Raymond, Robert & Roger), 6 Grandchildren (Michelle, Steven, Sarah, Christopher, Jonathan and Samantha) and 5 great grandchildren. Whilst he may be gone, this site will help ensure he is never forgotten and I invite family and friends to post their stories and photos to this tribute site.

Add TributeTributes to Charles

There have been 4 tributes left for Charles.

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I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Charles, but it's clear to see from everyone's comments how special he was, even during the difficult later years. I know how hard this can be as my grandad had the same illness. I'm sure that even then they knew who everyone was and how much everyone cared for them. They just couldn't express it.....

S.

Stef (Family Friend) June 19, 2007

True Love

How many people do we know that really know what true love is.
Well I knew one you Charlie.
You showed us over the years how much you adored Gladys with all the arguments you always kissed and made up and always said that was what love meant.
Well you reap the rewards when your as special as you are .You had a long life and passed on to others love affection and happiness.
I for one appreciate all the love you showed me over the years and my love for you will last forever.

Gloria (Daughter-in-law) June 12, 2007

They say that life is fleeting
I know that this is true
I left this world so quickly
With no goodbye to you.
I know how much you miss me
Your tears fall ever light
The pillow where you lay your head
Is wet with them at night.
I know your heart is hurting
The words we left, unsaid
I love you's left unspoken
Are spinning in your head.
The strength that I have carried
That served to make you whole
Remains to make you stronger
Within your grieving soul.
For you see, while you were weeping
On the day I passed away
At the gravesite near the flowers
Where my loved ones knelt to pray.
An angel came to see me
She took me by the hand
She led me to a kingdom
In a very distant land.
As I look down from the heaven
And see you standing there
Your heart so ever burdened
With more weight than it can bear.
I long to bring you comfort
I long to give you peace
I long to hold you closely
Cause all your tears to cease.
The joy I've found in heaven
Goes far beyond compare
The love that's so elusive
Can be found here everywhere.
The light is softly shining
There's no storm clouds here or rain
There's no teardrops found in heaven
There's no suffering, there's no pain.
You needn't be so troubled
Stay close to God and pray
That someday we'll be together
One bright and glorious day.
So my love, you shouldn't question
My dear you need not cry
I've gone to be with Jesus
I really didn't die

Tricia Donaldson Kierans Mum
June 11, 2007

Star

I could say I am sorry for your loss,
But he hasn't really gone,
He's only progressed on to being a star,
Where forever he'll shine on.

It is those who are left behind,
Who really feel the pain,
The thought you'll never hear his voice,
Or see his face again.

But what I say to these people,
Is look into your heart,
There you'll see your loved one,
And so you'll never really part!!