Ethel Marion DeBuse Gray

New Iberia – Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, March 10, 2023, at First United Methodist Church, 119 Jefferson St., New Iberia, LA, for Ethel Marion DeBuse Gray, 91, who passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at her home.

Interment will follow at Rosehill Cemetery.

Pastor Paul Fontenot will officiate.

Visitation will be at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia from 10:00 am until 12:30pm on Friday. .

Mrs. Gray was born May 29, 1931, in New Iberia, Louisiana, to the late Ernest DeBuse and the former Hilda Case, and was a 1948 graduate of New Iberia High School. She attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now UL) and earned a B.S. Degree in Secretarial Science. While at college, she met and later married her husband of 57 years, James Lawrence Gray. She was secretary at James L. Gray, Inc., a company they owned and operated for 30 years. She was an active member of the First Methodist Church, serving on many boards and committees. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Mrs. Gray served on the board, and was secretary of Rosehill Cemetery for many years. Marion possessed a love of life and family. She enjoyed golfing, playing bridge, watching mystery movies, completing crossword puzzles, and was an avid reader. Marion provided love, encouragement, guidance and support throughout the years, enriching the lives of all who knew her.

Left to treasure her memory are her children, Jennifer Gray of Breaux Bridge and James E. "Jameson" Gray of Houston, Texas; her sister, Brenda Rutherford and husband, Don of New Iberia; her godchild, Betty Gayle Markins of Plaquemine; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Gray; her parents, Ernest DeBuse and Hilda Case DeBuse; a grandson, Kale Gray Robin; and son-in-law, Keith Robin.

Pallbearers will be Kenny Williams, Johnny Markins, Michael Stockstill, Kirk Pellerin, Eric White, Ralph “Bud” Lee, Robert Suggs and Wayne Faucheaux. Honorary pallbearers are Harry Case, Jr., James Verret, Ralph Friend and L.J. Weil.

The family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to her caregivers, Alice Butler, Gladys Charles, Regina Benoit, Lisa Chargois, Mary Andrews, Rebecca Louis, Lea Thomas and Bobby Dean Johnson for the love and care given to Mrs. Gray during her illness; to the staff of Hospice of Acadiana, especially Mallory Guillotte and Seth Porche, who were so compassionate and caring during their time with Mrs. Gray; and a very special thanks to Virginia Planchard, Nina Derouen, Jane Kibodeaux, Charlene Malbrue and Wayne Faucheaux for their love and support given to Mrs. Gray and her family during her long illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Gray’s name to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503; First Methodist Church, 119 Jefferson Street, New Iberia, LA 70560; or to a charity of one’s choice.

Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560 (337-365-3331).