Evalind Gray

Evalind L. Gray was a hard worker who enjoyed canning garden produce, making candy during holidays and was a Scout leader for her two daughters.

Mrs. Gray died of heart failure on Sunday, Sept. 2, at Port Haven assisted living in Port Washington, of heart failure.  She was 72.

Mrs. Gray, was born in Antigo on Feb. 11, 1946, to Carl E. and Lillian H. Davis Zellmer.

She attended local schools, graduating from Anitgo High School in 1964.  

On April 15, 1966, she married Richard Pesl in Antigo. In 1970, they moved to Belgium when Mr. Pesl got a job at Bolens Corp. in Port Washington.

They moved to Fredonia in 1973.

“Lindy,” as she was known to friends and family, worked as a school lunch attendant at Grandview Elementary School in Waubeka.

She also worked at Allen Edmonds in Port Washington and Bauman’s Grocery in Waubeka.

After a divorce from Mr. Pesl, she married John Gray in 1989.

The couple lived in Milwaukee before moving to Waupaca in 1992.  

Mrs. Gray worked at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King for many years, serving food to the men and women residents of the facility.  Mr. Gray died in 1999 and Mrs. Gray moved back to Ozaukee County in 2016 and took up residence at Port Haven to be closer to her family.

Mrs. Gray was a hard worker and was a Scout leader for her daughters, her daughter Tracy Pesl said.

When she wasn’t serving others, she enjoyed crocheting, working crossword puzzles, gardening and canning, pickling and preserving garden produce.

“My Dad grew the garden and she preserved it,” Mrs. Gray’s daughter said. “It was about what Mother Nature provided that year.”

She also made candy, especially around the Christmas holidays.

“One of her specialties we called ‘glass candy,’” Tracy Pesl said. “It was a flat hard clear candy that she cracked into pieces. It was enjoyed by the whole family.”

Mrs. Gray is survived by former husband Richard (Kathleen) Pesl of Antigo; daughters Tracy Pesl of Menomonee Falls and Pamela Pesl of Port Charlotte, Fla.; and grandchildren Nikolaus Pesl and Hallee Pesl-Wayne.  She was preceded in death by her husband John Gray and brother Thomas Zellmer.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 10, at the Eernisse

Funeral Home, Port Washington.

Chaplain Rick Book will preside. Burial will follow at the Central Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in King.

The family will receive visitors from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at the cemetery chapel before final prayers.

Memorials are suggested to the Waupaca Humane Society.