Helen Elizabeth Gray, nee Eversmann, age 91, of O'Fallon, born July 22, 1918 in Caseyville Township, Ill., passed away Thursday afternoon, September 17, 2009, surrounded by a host of loving family and friends.

Mrs. Gray worked for many years as a secretary to Dr. C.C. Kane, former St. Clair County Coroner and was a faithful member of St. Clare Catholic Church. She was a wonderful woman, loved by many. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren thought she was the greatest woman in the world. She will be missed.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Robert W. Gray, who passed away March 18, 1998; her parents Henry and Josephine (Baldus) Eversmann; her sisters Esther Cox and Hilda Eversmann, brother-in-law Norman Cox; and a great-grandson Ryan Bowen.

Surviving are her five children, Robert (Roberta) Gray, of Wildwood, Mo., Marilyn (William) Bowen of Smithton, Ill., Carolyn (Leroy) Mahlman of O'Fallon, Ill., Cherolyn "Cherie" Gray of St. Louis, Mo., and Kathleen (James) DeFranco of Caseyville, Ill.; her grandchildren Michael (Karen) Bowen, Barbara Yorkovich, Jeff (Shannon) Bowen, Kevin Bowen, Kristina (Marty) Mantle, Anthony Gray, David Lindley, Laurie (Michael) Phillips, Nicole, Michelle, and Michael Gray, Derek, Dustin, Danielle, and Dylan DeFranco; great-grandchildren Kristin Bowen, Drake Delong, Brant, Brock, and Brynn Bowen; Devin, Ava, and Connor Mantle; Jared and Brady Guntli; Amanda, Rebecca, and Jacob Lindley; Ashley, April, Allison, and Alexandra Phillips; and two great-great-granddaughters, Savannah and Skylar. Also surviving are her brother Henry L. (Dorothy) Eversmann, of Fairview Heights, Ill; nieces, nephews, and cousins, and a dear friend Marie Sale of Belleville, Ill.

Memorial Donations may be made to the St. Clare Catholic Church Building Fund, Hospice of Southern Illinois, or in the form of masses.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Sunday, September 20, 2009 at St. Clare Catholic Church., and from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 21, 2009 at the church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 21, 2009 at St. Clare Catholic Church, 1411 Cross Street, Shiloh, Ill. with Rev. Jim Deiters presiding. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.