Melissa Sue “Mitz” Gray, 53, of Abingdon, Illinois passed away at 12:35 pm, April 20, 2025, at OSF St. Francis, Peoria.
Mitz was born March 19, 1972, in Macomb, Illinois, the daughter of John D. and Frances S. (Hopping) Taylor. She was raised in the Bushnell area and attended Bushnell Prairie City schools.
Mitz worked for several cleaning companies and later for many years for Blick Art Materials. With her love of cleaning, she ventured out and went into business for herself cleaning family’s homes and business’s. She had a love for the outdoors that included camping and fishing with friends and family. Her favorite pastime was time spent gambling at the river boat or scratching off lottery tickets. She never missed a good card game of Pitch on Sunday afternoons with her family and her Grandma Maggie. Mitz enjoyed every holiday and decorated her home for the season. She embraced being a mother but most recently a grandmother to her eleven grandchildren. They were her whole world.
Left to cherish her memory is her father, John Taylor of Abingdon; her children, Cassandra (Fiancé Stephan Valladares) Graham of Peoria, Ashley Taylor of London Mills, Illinois, Paige E. Hoyle of Galesburg and Mercedes Hoyle of London Mills; her brothers, R.E. Waters, John (Rebecca) Taylor and Jerry A. Taylor all of Prairie City, Illinois and eleven grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her mother, Frances and her infant brother twin to Jerry A., Jerry E.
Visitation is scheduled for 3:00-5:00 pm Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Abingdon Chapel. Memorials may be made to the family to establish an education fund for her daughter, Mercedes, checks c/o Cassandra Graham. Online condolences may be offered at www.h-p-w.com
