Obituary, 1973 - mid-Missouri newspaper: Essie Mae Gray, 71, dies at hospital "Mrs. Essie Mae Gray, age 71 years of Meta, Missouri, passed away Monday, August 20, 1973 at the Charles E Still Hospital in Jefferson City. Mrs. Gray was born November 24, 1901 in Van Cleve, Missouri, in Miller County, the daughter of Frank and Fannie Barnhart Cowen. She was united in marriage on November 5, 1921 in Jefferson City to John V Gray, who survives at the home. Mrs. Gray moved to Meta in 1933 where she lived the rest of her life and was a member of the Meta Christian Church. She was preceded in death by one granddaughjter, Rebecca Taylor in 1947, and one brother, Claude in infancy. Other survivors include: Six daughters, Mrs. Margie Roberds of Kansas City, Missouri; Mrs. Lois Allen of House Springs, Missouri; Mrs. Dorothy Taylor of Liberty, Missouri; Mrs. Jean Schanzmeyer, Jefferson City; and Mrs. Donna Schaefferkoetter, Lynchburg, Virginia; one son Dr. James Gray, Salem, Missouri; two brothers, Tommie Cowen, Meta; and Austin Cowen of Macks Creek; 24 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 23 at the Meta Christian Church with Rev. Earl Jones officiating. Interment was in the Meta Southside Cemetery under the direction of the Stevinson Funeral Home, Meta, Missouri. Pallbearers were Mark Witte, David Korber, Larry Mullins, Marvin Gray, Rick Tharp and Matt Saucier."