It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our mother and grandmother. Born in Southern California, Jeannie had a busy childhood surfing Venice Beach and diving for coins thrown by visitors from the steamer ships at Catalina Island with her 6 siblings. She also recalled visiting Disneyland with her family when she was 8 on just the third day the park was open. At 4 foot 11, Jeannie was a feisty woman full of zest. She loved growing up near the ocean and enjoyed the summers at her family’s cottage in Catalina. She was tenacious like her mother with a great commitment to excellence. 

She met our father, Kenneth Gray, in 1967, following the birth of her first daughter, marrying in 1968. One of her greatest regrets was not being able to raise her first child, Kylie Hansen, who found her and our family 29 years later. From then on, Kylie was one of us like we never missed a beat. Jeannie was so happy to have her 3 daughters together for the weddings of her other two daughters, Colleen and Ginger. She and her husband Ken moved from Southern California to Fortuna in the summer of 1977 with their two daughters. They knew no one in the county. The economy was challenging, and it took some time to find work. Jeannie ultimately went to work for Jacque Debets Realty, then Crown Redwood and then finally Pacific Lumber Company, for which she was most proud of. It was not an easy job for her to get and working in the factory with her short stature was challenging. She was a very hard worker and most of all she was motivated to afford a lifestyle that would help to care for her family. Jeannie retired early and had a second calling, caring daily on weekdays for her nearby grandchildren, Kira and Hayden, until they were old enough to stay home alone. She and Ken loved their outings with the grankids, taking them to restaurants and activities and teaching them about various cultures. Those were some of the happiest years of her life. She also enjoyed their trips in their motor home with their Siamese cat, Bluesy. Jeannie was also a talented stained-glass artist and crafter. She enjoyed writing and had a natural way with words. She loved her home, gardening and most of all, cooking for her family. She was also quite funny and a natural problem solver. Her ability to get to know strangers quickly and make a connection was admirable. 

Our mother’s health faltered in recent years but her tenacious spirit continued. She worked to get the most out of her days, exercising and advocating for herself and others. This past year, her daughter, Ginger, took her to lunch every Saturday where she enjoyed fish and chips whenever possible. 

Her greatest loves were her three daughters, Kylie, Colleen and Ginger and her four grandchildren, Emmeline, Kira, Olivia and Hayden. She was always so proud of how well they were doing and the careers they had developed. She was most proud that all 3 of her children were college graduates. Something that was not an option for her. She was also proud that her grandchildren were completing their education and that they were all hard workers. She will continue to be their ongoing champion, watching from above, cheering them on to have their best lives. She would want nothing but the absolute best life for each of them. That is for certain. Her greatest act of selflessness was giving up her first child for adoption and that was the epitome of our mother. She worked hard to provide for her family. She was the exact opposite of selfish. She was loving and caring, often to the sacrifice of herself. A mother’s love like none other. That was our mother, our grandmother. We love you and miss you already. 

Jeannie is survived by her three daughters, Kylie Hansen (Kris), Colleen Dunaway (Paul), Ginger Weber (Mike) and her four grandchildren, Emmeline Dunaway, Olivia Dunaway, Kira Weber and Hayden Weber. She was predeceased by her husband, Kenneth Gray, and three of her siblings. We thank her primary care provider, Dr. Lei Han, for her compassionate and diligent care, and for helping our mom and our family to navigate her health concerns this past year. 

Jeannie will be laid to rest in Fortuna with a small gathering with her family. We hope you cook a nice meal for your family or complement them for a job well done in honor of our mother. She truly was one of a kind!

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Jeannie’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.