Ethel came to South Carolina from Kingsport, Tennessee. She moved to Spartanburg in 1960 where she raised Leigh Ann, Charles and Michael and where her granchildren, Keri Autumn, Christopher and Richard were born.
In 1969, her cousin, Doris Richey, started her bowling at Pinewood Lanes. She joined the Monday Morning Coffee League and was taught to bowl by Coach Mattie O’Neal.
In 1979 – During a state tournament – Ethel left the SCWBA Annual Meeting as soon as it adjourned (She was a member of the BOD) and went to her wedding to John Gray. John is semi-retired from Spartan Automotive and Ethel is employed with Coleman Young Entreprises. They are both very active members of Croft Baptist Church where Ethel teaches Sunday School.
Ethel not only has been untiring in her service to the SCWBA but also to the Spartanburg WBA for many of the twenty-four years of which she has been a member.
To the SCWBA she is serving as the third vice president. she has served as fourth vice president and a director for a total of sixteen years.
Ethel has served as chairman and member of every committee the SCWBA has and also special committees numerous times. She has been the liaison between the SCWBA and the credentials and tellers committees many years.
She has served as an assistant director for the state classic tournament and worked in the championship tournament office for ten years.
Ethel not only does the work necessary for her committee assignments but also anything special needed for other committees. For instance, Ethel is the one who makes sure we have all the ballots for the Annual Meeting, a year in advance.
She was in charge of the SCWBA Memorial Service when the state championship tournament was in Spartanburg and also served with the Hall of Fame Dinner Committee.
Ethel spent one year coaching with the YABA and worked in the State YABA Tournament Office.
She has been honored by membership in the Spartanburg Hall of Fame. She has served Spartanburg well as the Treasurer; Second Vice President for one and one-half years; the First Vice President for four years and a director for sixteen years.
Like the SCWBA, Ethel has chaired most all of the Spartanburg WBA committees; also serving as BVL Chairman and Chairman of the Lane Certification Committee.
Ethel has been to the National Convention as a delegate from Spartanburg six years and served on the WIBC Tellers Committee three years.
Ethel attended the WIBC State Leaders workshop once and went to WIBC Leadership Training Seminars twice.
Ethel’s ability to get along well with others has made it easy for her to work with everyone in the SCWBA tournament office and helped tremendously for contact with tournament bowlers.
She has proven her ability to lead by her chairmanship of the various committees and her thoroughness and completion of these duties.
Ethel is always willing to help anyone else with an assignment and has spent a lot of time helping the SCWBA Secretary with various assignments. She is strongly committed to her duties as a member of the SCWBA Board of Directors.
Also, during this time, Ethel has used her bowling skills to have rolled a high game of 247; a high series of 653 and maintain an average of 177.
The SCWBA Hall of Fame can count itself proud to have Ethel as a member of the elite group.
Congratulations Ethel for your selection as a member of the South Carolina Women’s Bowling Association Hall of Fame!
Obituary – Died April 19, 2003
Ethel Deming Gray, 68, of 444 Keltner Avenue, Spartanburg, South Carolina died Saturday, April 19, 2003 at her home. A native of Kingsport, TN, she was the wife of John R. Gray, and the daughter of the late Elbert Lee and Carrie Rice Cassel. She was Office Manager for Masters Mark Cleaners, a very active member of Croft Baptist Church, and a member of the South Carolina Baptist Network. She was an avid bowler, and held the office of Second Vice President with the South Carolina Women’s Bowling Association, and was First Vice President of the Spartanburg Women’s Bowling Association.
Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles P., III and Robin Deming, Michael A. and Lynda Deming; all of Chesnee, South Carolina; two step-daughters, Mary John McClain and her husband, Jim, and Doris Gray Fowler, all of Spartanburg She is also survived by a sister, Helen C. Miller and her husband, Walter, of Husdon, Florida and a brother, Richard G. Cassel and his wife, Leneda, of Pacolet, South Carolina; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by a daughter, Leigh Ann Deming, a granddaughter, Keri Autumn Deming, and a brother, Kenneth Wayne Cassel.
Funeral services will be 1100 a.m. Tuesday, April 22, 2003 at Croft Baptist Church, conductec by the Re. Joe Dempsey and the Rev. Larry Carter. Burial will be at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, followed by visitation at the graveside.
Memorials may be made to Croft Baptist Church, 4190 E. Croft Circle, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302 or Hospice Special Needs Funds, Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, 120 Heywood Avenue, Suite 300, Spartanburg, SC 29302.
The family is at the home.
Please visit and participate in the American Memorial at www.floydmortuary.com
Floyd’s Greenlawn Chapel
Published GoUpstate.com 4-21-2003
