Catherine Blencke Gray

Memorial Funeral Mass for Catherine Blecke Gray, 84, of Monroe formerly of St Joseph, LA will be 12:30 PM Monday February 16, 2026 at St Joseph Catholic Church in St Joseph, LA with Rev Taylor Reynolds officiating. Interment will be in Wesley Chapel Cemetery in St Joseph, LA. Visitation will be from 11:30 until 12:30 at the church in St Joseph with a Rosary and Mass to follow.

Catherine Blencke Gray was born and raised in North Bergen, New Jersey before moving to St. Joseph, Louisiana in her late twenties where she met the love of her life, Mike. Even though she lived in the south for almost sixty years, she carried her Jersey accent and strong personality with her throughout her life. She never met a stranger and was known for her humor and unmistakable charm. Catherine loved to reminisce about her career as manager of a local finance company in St. Joseph and all of the people she met and served during that time. She was a member of the local DAR chapter and served on the Tensas Parish Library board for many years.

Catherine had a special love for animals, especially her cats, and supported several animal rescue charities. She also loved gardening, reading, travel, and spending time with her family at the lake. No one loved Christmas more than she did and she really went out of her way to make it special for her family each year. She was a lifelong Catholic and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church faithfully, serving in many roles throughout the years.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Anne Blencke, siblings, Jeanine Blencke and David Blencke, her brother-in-law, Jimmie Gray, and her great-grandson Jon Eric Walters.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Mike Gray, children Claire Gray and Michael (Kelly) Gray, grandchildren Benjamin Walters, Charles (Mallory) Walters, Henry Gray and Mary Michael Gray, and great-grandchildren Leland Walters and Jon Paul Walters, sister Gail Gray and sister-in-law Diana Blencke. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their great appreciation to the staff of Avalon Place for the care and compassion they provided over the past ten months.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the River Cities Humane Society for Cats in Monroe, Louisiana or to St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, Louisiana.