White Funeral Home
400 First Street West
Independence, Iowa 50644

Independence – Evelyn Mae Gray, 88 years old, of Independence, Iowa, died on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at the Buchanan County Health Center LTC in Independence.  She was born on September 1, 1922, in Fayette County, Iowa, the daughter of Wilfred Christian and Mae A. (Mast) Bienfang.  She graduated from Orange High School located south of Waterloo, Iowa, in 1940.  On September 18, 1945, she married Melvin Harding Gray at the Bienfang family home near Waterloo.  They farmed until retiring.  Mr. Gray preceded her in death in 2002.  Mrs. Gray was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Independence.  She enjoyed cooking and playing cards (500, Rummy, Pepper, etc.) often at the Independence Senior Center.

Mrs. Gray is survived by 4 brothers, Kenneth Bienfang of Denver, Iowa, Harold Bienfang of Jesup, Iowa, Elvern Bienfang of Robinsdale, Minnesota, and Arlon Bienfang of Waterloo, Iowa and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters, Marcella Bienfang and Wanda Snyder, and 2 brothers, Wilbur Bienfang and George Bienfang.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2011, at the White Funeral Home in Independence with Rev. John Hougen officiating.  Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center, Iowa.

Friends may call for visitation from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Saturday, July 16th, at the funeral home.

White Funeral Home in Independence is in charge of arrangements.