Bette Jane Trail was born on Feb. 4, 1947 in Buffalo, New York, to Warren Wilson Trail and Doris May (Seiders). She was the second of four children born to the Trail family. She grew up in Buffalo, NY. Bette graduated from South Park High School in 1964 and then attended Millard Filmore School of Nursing where she graduated in 1967 with a RN degree.
Bette trusted Christ as her Savior in 1966 while attending a nurse’s Bible study. On Aug. 29, 1970 she married George E. Gray of Punxsutawney Pennsylvania. The Grays had two children Andrew David Gray (1972) and Matthew Warren Gray (1973).
Bette used her nursing skills in New York, Virginia and Texas in various hospitals; she also worked in the neurological intensive care unit of Herman Hospital in Houston, Texas for six years. She continued her nursing as a home health care nurse as well as being a Hospice nurse for eight years.
Bette authored a Christian fiction book in 2005 entitled ‘What Happened At Black Tooth Bayou’. She was an invaluable help to her husband George. She assisted her husband in his pastoral work both in Washington State and Pennsylvania as well as his ministry ‘Circle of Love’, a ministry to blind persons throughout the U.S. and around the world. She was also a guide for blind campers as well as the camp nurse for Camp Siloam (a Christian camp for blind adults organized by her husband Rev. George Gray) from 2002 until 2018. She enjoyed teaching children in Sunday School, VBS, and also taught Children’s church.
Bette leaves behind her husband George of 55 years, her two sons, four grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren, Amanda Gray and husband Colby Vrazel and their children Ely and Emmy Rose Vrazel of Angleton, TX; Rebecca & husband Joe Schweikhardt and sons Odin & Callan and Becket of Willis, TX, Brittany Gray and son Maverick of Galveston, TX and Dakota and Elise Hogan and son River James of Willis, TX.
She was preceded in death by her mother Doris Mae Trail, who died in 1981 and her father Warren Wilson Trail, who died in 1999. Bette’s younger brother David preceded her in death in 2005; her sister Shirley died in 2018 due to pancreatic cancer; and her sister Judy went to Glory in March, 2026. Bette was graduated to Glory on Aug. 24, 2026.
Gifts of remembrance can be made to Samaritan’s Purse. A visitation in honor of Bette will be held on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. A Celebration of Life will follow at 1:00 PM, both being held at Neal Funeral Home 200 S. Washington Ave, Cleveland, Texas 77327. Bette’s service will be officiated by Rev. George Gray. Interment will be at the Security Cemetery, Cleveland Texas, with closing remarks by Rev. Earl Farris.
All arrangements to be handled under the trusted care of Neal Funeral Home.
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