Ethelene Stephens Gray, 99, died September 15, 2011 in Paris , Texas , where she had resided since 2004. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was born in Hempstead County , Arkansas , to the late Elijah and Lucy Stephens, on May 31, 1912.

Ethelene came to Hot Spring County to teach in the Central School system after graduating from Arkansas State Teachers College , now UCA. She was the widow of the late Jack Gray of Malvern, and was an elementary teacher in the Malvern School District until retiring in 1974.

A life-long Methodist, she was a member of the Malvern First United Methodist Church and its Wesleyan Sunday School class. She was also an active member of the Malvern Horticulture Club for many years, and loved cats.

She was also preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers, Lelia Jordan and Daisy Sutton, and John Stephens and Cline Stephens.

She is survived by her twin sister Kathelene Blythe of Gurdon, Arkansas; a son, Stephen Gray and his wife Kay of Paris, Texas; a daughter, Diana Goldberg of New York City; four grandchildren, Kirk Gray of Fort Worth, Karen Rose and Lisa Melot of Paris, Texas, and Jeremy Goldberg of Washington, DC; five great-grandchildren, Halie, Jessie, and Sabrina Melot, Lacey Doss, and Summer Rose, all of Paris, Texas; and by several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at J. A. Funk Funeral Home on Saturday, September 17th, from 12 noon until 1:30 p.m. A cortege will then proceed to Shadowlawn Cemetery for graveside services scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. Reverend LaVon Post will officiate.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church , 127 East Page Avenue , Malvern , Arkansas 72104 .

Online condolences may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.