James Alexander GRAY Earl Thornton GRAY Ellen GRAY Wesleys FIRSTWIFE Margaret GRAY Eloise F BATEY Agnes McKay DOW Williamette Naomi JONES Hazel GRAY Mabel Lillian GRAY Jennie KAUFMAN Mini tree diagram
Wesley Mearl GRAY

Wesley Mearl GRAY10,1,2,3,10,4,5,6,11,12,13,14,15,7,8,9

13th Dec 18981,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 - 21st Feb 19794,6,8

Flying from Guadalajara, Baja California, Mexico

Life History

13th Dec 1898

Born in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

about 1917

Married Wesleys FIRSTWIFE in Washington.7

1917

Resident 1917 Riverside County Directory, p 456. Living in Palm Springs, along with his parents, working as a clerk, probably in his father's business, in construction. No addresses are listed on this page, only occupations. in Palm Springs, Riverside, California, USA.9

about 1919

Birth of daughter Ellen GRAY in Portland, Multnomah, Oregon.7

9th Feb 1920

Married Eloise F BATEY in Clark County, Washinton.11

about 1922

Birth of daughter Margaret GRAY in Colorado.7

before Dec 1926

Divorced from Eloise F BATEY.16,7

30th Dec 1926

Married Agnes McKay DOW in California.16

23rd Jul 1929

Occupation Flying from Guadalajara, Baja California, Mexico in San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

before 1936

Married Williamette Naomi JONES in Riverside County, California.15

before 1936

Divorced from Agnes McKay DOW

27th Nov 1951

Death of Williamette Naomi JONES in Los Angeles County, California.4

20th Mar 1955

Death of Agnes McKay DOW in Marysville, Snohomish, Washington.16

21st Feb 1979

Died in Orange County, California.4,6,8

after 21st Feb 1979

Buried in Riverside National Cemetery, Riverside, Riverside County, California.6

Notes

  • 1900 Federal Census, Multnomah County, Oregon, 16 June, Portland Ward 11, District 16, page 5A, McKenna Ave, Hse #96, Fam #100
    Gray, James A Head W M June 1869 30 Married 6 years PA PA PA Bricklayer Owns
    Gray, Jessie [Jennie] Wife W F Oct 1875 24 Married 6 yrs 4 children/3 living OR IA OR
    Gray, Westley Dec 1897 2 Single OR PA OR

    A Gray family genealogist provides Wesley's full name in a comment on his 1900 census record.

    "Wesley Mearl Gray rather than Westley Gray"
    --  Jen Garet, Ancestry Comment on 1900 census record, 19 December 2011

    1910 Federal Census, Multnomah County, Oregon, 19 April, Portland Ward 8, District 192, Sheet 6A, 744 Belmont St, Hse  #124, Fam #133
    Gray, James A Head M W 37 Married 16 yrs PA PA PA Concrete Contractor Owns
    Gray, Jennie F W 35 Married 16 yrs 5 children/2 living OR OR OR
    Gray, Earl Son M W 14 Single OR PA OR
    Gray, Wesley Son M W 12 Single OR PA OR

    In the 1917 Riverside County, Directory, James is reported living in Palm Springs, working as a clerk.  No residence addresses are provided in the page available.  His parents were also listed, likewise living in Palm Springs.

    U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
    1917 Riverside County Directory, 1917, p 456
    Palm Springs [no addresses on this page, only occupations]
    Gray James (Jennie) contr
    Gray Wesley clk

    His full name also is given on his WWI Draft Registration below.  He had moved, apparently for work, to Portland, Oregon by 1918.  The 1920 census reports he was living in his brother Earl's hosuehold.

    U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
    Wesley Mearl Gray
    Birth 13 Dec 1898 East 3rd and Broadway, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
    Occupation Machinist, Rushlight & Penny, East 3rd and Broadway, Portland
    Contact Mr James A Gray (Father), Palm Springs, California
    Medium Height & Build, Blue Eyes, LIght Hair12
    Registered September 1918 Portland
    Signed Wesley M Gray

    In 1920, Wesley is reported living in his brother's household.

    1920 Federal Census, Multnomah County, Oregon, 15 January, Portland, District 35, Page 11A, 390 1/2 Jefferson St, Hse #97, Fam #331
    Hawson, Arthur C Head Rents M W 67 Married Immigrated 1870 Alien England England England Mill Railroad Clerk
    Hawson, Mary I Wife F W 59 Married  OR VA OH Dressmaker
    Berner, George Lodger M W 20 Single CO Germany Germany ShipYard Laborer
    - Fam #332 -
    Gray, Earl T Head Rents M W 24 Married  OR PA OR Orchestra Musician
    Gray, Gwendolyn Wife F W 19 Married  Washington Kansas Missouri
    Hibbs, Gertrude Mother-in-Law F W 39 Divorced Missouri Iowa Indiana
    Hibbs, Anna Sister-in-Law F W 17 Single Washington Kansas Missouri
    - page 11B -
    Gray, Wesley M Brother M W 22 Married [but no wife reported] OR PA OR Auto Mechanic

    Washington, Marriage Records, 1865-2004
    Wesley M Gray
    Spouse Eloise F Batey
    Marriage 9 Feb 1920 Clark County

    At some point before 1930, Wesley and Eloise divorced or Eloise died.  I have not found any additional record for them, but find Wesley married to an Agnes Dow, living in Los Angeles.  Her Scottish immigrant parents are in the household, and their family is sharing the dwelling with a couple named Potter.  There are two children in this household, aged 11 and 8.

    The oldest daughter Ellen could not be Agnes' daughter, since Wesley married his previous wife Eloise Batey only in 1920 and did not marry Agnes till 1926.  Ellen is even too old to be Wesley's daughter by Eloise, since she was born in about 1917  The 1930 census reports that he was first married at age 21, so about 1917.  So Wesley married his first wife in about 1917.  I have not found a marriage record for that marriage.

    In the 1920 census, Wesley is reported as married, matching his record of marriage to Eloise in February 1920.  But his wife is not in the home, nor any children.  It may be that Ellen was in her maternal grandparents' home, if her mother died, or if she and Wesley divorced.  But then Ellen and her younger sister Margaret are in Wesley's household in 1930.  The younger daughter Margaret was Eloise's daughter.  Wesley married his next wife Agnes on 30 Dec 1926, when Margaret would have been about 2 years old.

    Wesley was a pilot, working in 1929 for Tanner Air Service.

    San Diego, California, Airplane Passenger and Crew List Arrivals, 1929-1954
    Wesley Gray, Pilot
    Age 34, Birth Date abt 1895
    Arrival Date 23 Jul 1929 San Diego, California, USA
    Departure 23 Jul 1929 Agua Caliente, Baja California, Mexico
    Tanner Air Service, Plane #NC8440

    1930 Federal Census, Los Angeles County, California, 7 April, Los Angeles, District 19-354, page 8A, 1844 11th St, Hse #101, Fam #199
    Potter, Floyd M Head Rents $75 M W 35 Married at age 19 WV WV WV Garage Service Mgr
    Potter, Ina V Wife F W 30 Married at age 26 SD SD NH
    - Fam #200 -
    Gray, Wesley M Head Rents $30 M W 34 Married at age 21 OR OR OR Aviator, Pilot
    Gray, Agnes M Wife F W 29 Married at age 17 WA Scotland Scotland
    Gray, Ellen Dau F W 11 WA OR WA [b abt 1819]
    Gray, Margaret Dau F W 8 CO OR WA [b abt 1822]
    Dow, Henry H Father-in-Law M W 60 Married at age 31 Scotland Scotland Scotland Immigrated 1875 Carpenter, Building
    Dow, Anne M Mother-in-Law F W 29 Married at age 17 Scotland Scotland Scotland Immigrated 1888
    Dow, Margaret S Sister-in-Law M W 20 Single Washington Scotland Scotland

    In 1936, Wesley's wife is named Naomi in several city directories.  In the 1936 Riverside City Directory, Wesley's mother Jennie is also listed.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Riverside, California, City Directory, 1936, p 161
    Gray Jennie J (wid J A) h 3415 Orange
    - p 132 -
    Gray Wesley M (Naomi) Used Cars h 3451 Market

    In the 1937 directory her name is misspelled as Neomi.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Riverside, California, City Directory, 1937, p 132
    Gray Wesley M (Neomi) crpntr h 3743 2d

    By 1939, Wes had moved to nearby Palm Springs where he is now serving as assistant mangaer of a hotel, under his brother Earl as manager.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Palm Springs, California, City Directory, 1939, p 29
    Earl T ( Edna K) Gray mgr Royal Palms Hotel & Annex r 226 N Palm Canyon dr  Phone 247
    - p 30 -
    Gray Wesley M (W Naomi) Asst Mgr Royal Palms Hotel r 225 N Palm Canyon dr

    In 1941 Wes and Naomi are living in Long Beach.

    U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989
    Long Beach, California, City Directory, 1941, p 244
    Gray Wesley M (Naomi) aviator h 51 Corona av

    U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
    Wesley Gray
    Born 13 Dec 1898
    Died Feb 1979
    Last Benefit Riverside, Riverside, California 92515
    Last Residence Riverside, Riverside, California 92503
    SSN 547-22-6693 issued California (Before 1951)

    California, Death Index, 1940-1997
    Wesley Mearl Gray
    Gender Male
    Birth 13 Dec 1898 Oregon
    Death 21 Feb 1979 Orange County
    Social Security #547226693

    U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca.1775-2006
    Wesley Mearl Gray
    CAPT US ARMY WORLD WAR I
    Birth 13 Dec 1898
    Death 21 Feb 1979
    Buried Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard Riverside, CA 92518, Buried At Section 2 Site 902

Sources

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