Lela Carleen Gray, 61, went home to be with her Lord, Jesus Christ, on the morning of September 18, 2011 at Alpha House in Sweet Home. She died peacefully while her sister and brother-in-law held her hands and prayed for her. She was born in Columbus, Texas to Carlon Thomas and Lela Loriene (Matlock) Gray.

Carleen’s family lived in Sheridan, Texas but Carleen was born, a short distance away, at a hospital in Columbus, Texas, on December 1, 1949. In 1950, Carleen’s family moved to Elk City, OK where they remained until 1961 then moved to Ardmore, OK. In 1963, Carleen became a resident of Pauls Valley State School until 1980 at which time she became a resident of McCall’s Chapel in Ada, OK. In 2003, Carleen became a resident of several different nursing homes around Ada, OK. In 2007, her older sister, who lives in Albany, OR, moved her to a Mennonite group home, Alpha House, in Sweet Home, OR where she lived for the remainder of her life.

Lela “Carleen” Gray was born with Down Syndrome. From the time she was born, she was called Carleen. For over 20 years, her home was at McCall’s Chapel in Ada, OK, which is a facility where mentally handicapped individuals are trained to be as independent as possible. It was here that Carleen learned many skills that would help her to become independent. She was taught job skills, learned how to do her own laundry, to keep her room clean, to help cook in the group home kitchen, to help keep the group home clean and to relate socially with the other residents. McCall’s Chapel had dances for the residents and this was one of the activities that Carleen looked forward to the most because she loved to dance. She had a great sense of rhythm and she wouldn’t let you sit down if the music was playing. Each year she participated in the Special Olympics and won medals in the softball throw and other events.

Each year, Carleen and her parents would drive from Oklahoma to San Jose, California to spend Christmas with her married older sister, Beverly, and her family. After her parents died, each December Carleen was able to buy her own airplane ticket to visit her sister in San Jose, CA. December was her favorite month of the year because both her birthday and Christmas came in that month. After Christmas, her sister would have a big birthday party for Carleen with lots of family, friends, presents, and her favorite homemade cake. Each New Year’s Eve celebration, there would be a party to attend with plenty of dancing. Her family has fond memories of dancing with Carleen. She had a particular dance move that her family called “The Carleen Dance”.

Carleen had lots of hobbies that kept her busy. She liked to sit and talk with friends and family over a cup of coffee, listen and sing along to music, watch movies and TV, weave pot holders for gifts, color pictures, write letters and organize her possessions.

Carleen loved Jesus, going to church, singing hymns, saying the blessings before meals, which always ended in her standard phrase, “Dig In!” She was tender hearted, full of joy, and very affectionate. She loved giving hugs and receiving them. She was very social, loved to be around people and loved social gatherings, especially holidays. She loved her family, being and aunt to her nieces and nephew, and her favorite phrase to any family member was “I love you”. She was very neat and loved to help around the home.

In 2002, Carleen was diagnosed with Down’s Dementia and had to be moved from McCall’s Chapel to a nursing home in Ada, OK. As her dementia increased, she was moved to several different nursing homes around Ada, OK. In 2007, her older sister, Beverly, who lives in Albany, OR, moved Carleen to a Mennonite group home in Sweet Home, OR. God blessed Carleen by giving her a wonderful group home to live in, with a respectful and loving staff to care for her. In Carleen’s last four years at Alpha House, she responded to the love that was shown to her by the devoted staff of Alpha House and her family. Even with the debilitating effects of Down’s Dementia, she still responded to her birthday, Christmas and the love shown to her. Carleen will be missed by everyone that loved her.

Carleen in survived by her sister, Beverly A. Cho, and husband Joseph Brosnan of Albany; nieces: Deanna Collins and husband Dave of Folsom, California, Melinda LaBelle and husband Chris of Corvallis, OR; nephew Thomas M.T. Cho of Fullerton, CA.; four great nieces and nephews: Rachel Cho of Folsom, CA. Lucas, Ethan and Sophie LaBelle, of Corvallis; other people that were a part of Carleen’s life are Tina Hardy of Ada, OK., Sung J. Cho of Henderson, Nevada, Hendra, Sungnan and Sara Suwanda, Rich and Lisje Archdeacon, Karen Cabral, Staff and Holy Family Educational Center all of San Jose, CA, The Quinton Family of Oregon and California, the Len Davis Family of Georgia, Michele Brosnan of Salem.

Calreen was preceded in death by her parents Carlon Thomas and Lela Loriene (Matlock) Gray and an older sister, Fontella Mae Gray.

The family would like to thank the staff of Alpha House in Sweet Home for the respect, love, care and comfort they gave Carleen during the last four years of her life. The family would also like to thank the nurses of Evergreen Hospice for the care and comfort they gave to Carleen during the last two years of her life.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet Home Funeral Chapel.