Mary Gray

Mary Neal Gray, formerly of Indianapolis, Indiana, died at home in Knoxville, Tennessee on December 31, 2024. She was 90 years old.

Mary began working at an insurance agency in her hometown of Muncie, Indiana, immediately upon graduating from high school (a year early) in 1951. She became the first woman in Indiana to hold the CPCU insurance designation.

After being recruited to work for an insurance agency in Indianapolis, she met attorney Mark W. Gray, a founding partner in the firm that later became Kightlinger & Gray LLP. They married in 1963 and soon had two children. While working from home and raising her children, Mary earned the CLU insurance designation in 1971, becoming the first woman in Indiana to hold both CPCU and CLU designations. Mary and her brother, Sherman Neal, were principals in The Neal Group insurance agency, which had offices in Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois in addition to Indiana.

Mary is survived by her children Carolyn Gray (Tom Booker) of Knoxville and Mark W. Gray of Los Angeles; grandchildren Emma M. Gray (Knoxville), Noah T. Gray (Chicago) and Fiona T. Gray (Chicago); and countless friends and others who were touched by her loving and generous spirit. Special thanks to the nursing staff of UT Medical Center Hospice Services, whose support has been invaluable to the family members caring for Mary at home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mark W. Gray, Sr.; parents John L. Neal and Gertrude Ethel Smith Neal; siblings Vesta J. Hughes, Georgia Violet Nead, John Lester Neal, Jr., Daisy Neal Rice, James L. Neal, Harold Gene Neal and Sherman Neal; and special niece and closest friend Carolyn Wallace.

At Mary’s request, there will be no visitation or formal services. Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Second Harvest Food Bank or any charity that directly benefits children.