As a young man
As a young man
With his wife Bertha and daughters Frances and Clara, formal attire
Francis Pinkney Gray
1869-1950
Our maternal grandfather was Francis Pinkney Gray. He was born on 3 Jun 1869 in Williamson County, Illinois, the third child of Francis Marion Gray and Amanda Veach. Pinkney, as he was known, first married Susie Anderson in 1901 in Fresno, California, and then our grandmother Bertha Elizabeth Thompson (1877-1961). Pinkney and Bertha raised two girls, Frances Gray Hand (1903-1989) and our mother Clara Gray Klaisner (1909-2009). He and Bertha also adopted a son, Charles Hillis Gray (1923-1945). Bertha died in Modesto, California on 2 Jun 1961. Pinkney died in Modesto, California on 9 Jul 1950.
Photographs
With his first wife Susie Anderson, 1891
With my grandmother Bertha Elizabeth Thompson
With his wife and daughters
Lowell’s Recollections of
his Grandfather
With his wife and daughters
With his wife Bertha on their 50th wedding anniversary in 1941
Carpenter's Union cards for Francis Pinkney Gray
Lowell's recollection: "While going through some pictures I found two Carpenters Union cards for Grandfather Gray, one for Stanislaus County in March 1912 and one for Santa Clara County in April 1924. I am guessing that the Stanislaus card is for after he finished his work at the University post 1906 earthquake. The Santa Clara card is when he was back at the University for the building of the stadium. They appear to be signed by the same person, presumably F.P. Gray. If so, he had a fine handwriting skill."
Charles “Hillis” Gray (1923-1945)
Hillis was the beloved adopted son of Pinkney and Bertha (Thompson) Gray
