Idalia Recio Gray

Idalia Recio Gray passed away in Memphis, Tennessee, at the age of 92. Idalia was born in Monterrey, México, on May 22, 1932. She was the daughter of Secundino Carlos Recio Pérez-Salinas from Habana, Texas, and Antonia Cantú Peña from Salinas Victoria, Nuevo-León México. Idalia was a caring and devoted wife, a compassionate and loving mother and grandmother, and a steadfast and caring friend. Idalia was born in Monterrey, México, and by 1936, her family moved to Brownsville, Texas, where her father was a typesetter for the local paper. At the age of 10, Idalia's family moved back to Monterrey. Idalia attended the English Commercial Institute in Monterrey after high school. She worked at Compañía Minera de Peñoles in Monterrey, México, from 1948 to 1959. Idalia later worked at the U. S. Consulate in Monterrey until marrying Gerald "Jerry" Glenn Gray on February 8, 1964. They then moved to Rock Island, Illinois, where she worked at Modern Woodmen's Insurance Company. In 1970, they moved to McAllen, Texas. Idalia worked as a pre-kindergarten assistant teacher at St. John's Episcopal Day School in the mid-70s. For most of the 1980s and 90s, Idalia was a full-time mother and wife. As her husband Jerry began to develop Alzheimer's in 1992, she became his full-time caregiver until he passed in 2002, after 38 years of marriage. In 2017, she moved to Memphis to live with her son, David, and his family, where she enjoyed many healthy years with frequent visits from her family. Idalia was liked by all she met, and she made many friends throughout her life, from school, work, and church. She was the moral compass for her children and showed unconditional love for her whole family. We miss her immensely. She is survived by her sister, María Antonieta "Chiqui" Recio Cantú de López; sons, David Miguel Gray (Christina La Valley) and Anthony Eduardo Gray (Barbara Backer-Gray); her stepdaughter Judy (Roger) Ball; her grandchildren Malcolm Anthony Gray, Roselyn Ileana Gray, and Sydney Violet Gray; and many cousins, nephews, and nieces. Idalia was preceded in death by both her parents, Secundino Carlos Recio Pérez-Salinas and Antonia Cantú Peña; her husband, Gerald Glenn Gray; her siblings, Gloria Recio Cantú de Villarreal, Bertha Recio Cantú de Cárdenas, Carlos Omar Recio Cantú, Olga Angélica Recio Cantú, and her stepson Robert Lloyd Gray. Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 24, at Kreidler Funeral Home, 314 N. 10th St. in McAllen from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. The funeral service will be at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 25, at Kreidler Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery in McAllen.

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Idalia Recio Gray

July 17, 2024