Sonia JaVana Gabrielson Gray passed peacefully from this world on Tuesday, Christmas Eve, December 24, 2019, in Galesburg, IL, surrounded by her large and loving family. This most-loving Swede was 93.
Sonia was born on July 1, 1926, to Chester Carl and Edith Irene Gabrielson, in an upstairs bedroom on the family farm north of Cambridge in the Krisdala Hills–just two miles from where her mother grew up. She was the apple of her father’s eye. Later, her two younger sisters were born: Rienette Georgene and June Nadine.
Sonia began school in a one-room schoolhouse in Lynn Center, but these were the Depression days and like so many others the family moved several times. Wherever she was, Sonia threw herself into school activities: plays, choirs, and, her favorite, 4-H, in which she participated for eight years and from which she received an achievement award that was presented with fanfare at the LeClaire Ballroom in Moline. She graduated in the top of her class from Andover High School as the salutatorian.
World War II broke out and Sonia corresponded with David Beck, a soldier and the brother of a friend. The two were married and had three children. David fought in the Battle of the Bulge, suffering greatly from the war, and passed away on April 1, 1957.
Sonia grew up working on the farm and was a working mom for most of her adult life. Over the years, she was a professional bookkeeper, a tax-preparer, and spent the end of her career as a program administrator for the United States Department of Agriculture.
Sonia was living in Galesburg in October 1958 when the Reverend John E. Lohan introduced her to a WW II Navy combat veteran, Anthony Gray. They quickly fell in love and were married on January 17, 1959, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Together, they had four more children, filling the large house at 794 North Academy Street. Sonia loved that full home. “Anytime I came in the house,” she once said, “it was as if it wrapped its arms around me.”
Sonia wrapped her arms around life, beginning with her family. The Church was part of that family, and she devoted many hours to church activities at IHM, including serving as Charter President of the Ladies of Mary and Treasurer, as an Extraordinary Minister, Lector and choir member, and organizing the IHM Friendship and Fellowship. She was also committed to her larger community, serving in many roles such as organizing the American Legion Auxiliary George Norris Post 484 in New Windsor, serving on the boards of the Knox County Home Extension Board and Visiting Nurses Association, and working many years as an election judge.
She had said that her one regret was not attending college, but she was a true life-long learner and instilled a love of education in all her children. Over the last several years, she became an avid reader of history and biography and in the end read as much as most graduate students.
Sonia JaVana Gabrielson Gray loved, and was loved by, a large family. They mourn her passing but know they were blessed by her presence. As she would say at the end of every phone conversation, “I love you. God Bless You. So Long.”
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tony, her sister, Georgene, and great granddaughter Cierra.
She is survived by her children Rodney Carlos (Idalee) Gray, Joel John (Julie) Gray, Sonia Kelly (John) Nelson, Joseph Anthony Gray, Mary Edith (Osha) Davidson, Patrick Gabrielson (Deb) Gray, and Michael Edward Gray; her grandchildren Becky, Celeste, Christopher, David G., David N., Erica, Haley, Jennifer, J.R., Kim, LeAnn, Liam, Marie, Marley, Melissa, Michelle, Mindy, Natalie, Sara, Sarah, and Sienna; her great-grandchildren Adam, Alexandra, Brooke, Caige, Camryn, Carson, Chandler, Chase, Colton, Eleanor, Ezra, Frida, Gabriella, Hannah, Isaac, Katie, Kennedy, Kolbe, Landon, Michaela, Mira, Oskar, Ramona, and Remi; and great-great granddaughter Mystic. She is also survived by her sister, June Hammond, sister in law, Loretta Sanders, and many cousins, nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly.
The rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Friday, December 28, 2019 at Watson Thomas Funeral Home and Crematory with visitation following 5:30-8 p.m. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Galesburg. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, St. Vincent de Paul Society, or OSF Hospice. Online expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.watsonthomas.com.
