Carol Jeanne (Bergquist) Bray

Carol Jeanne Bray died peacefully on Monday, May 25, 2015. She was surrounded by her husband of 45 years and her loving family. Carol loved her family and friends and was always attuned to the needs of others. She is best remembered through her business career that brought organization, compassion, leadership and counseling to young high school students, while working with her staff of 200 volunteers in fourteen states. She was responsible for over 12,000 high school foreign exchange students from 35 different countries over a 20-year interval. She was always the advocate of seizing and embracing cultural differences.
Her love for people was carried into her religious life at Oconee Presbyterian Church. She was a long-time Elder and a member of the personnel and missions' ministries, as well as several small groups.
Carol was born on Jan 1, 1948, in Chicago to Karl A. and Hilda C. Bergquist. She attended Lyons Township High School in Lagrange, IL and later DeVilbiss High School in Toledo, Ohio where she graduated in 1965. She graduated from the University of Toledo in 1968, and married her high school prom date, William F. Bray, in December, 1969.
Similar to how she embraced many foreign cultures, she flourished in the many family locales in Canada, Texas, Ohio, and Georgia. She has remained connected with those neighbors and friends. Carol was loved by all who crossed paths with her. She was beautiful inside and out, had an endearing sense of humor, and loved her friends and family deeply. Her bright eyes, smile, and laughter lit up any room she entered. She always made people feel welcomed and special.
She is survived by her husband William F. Bray; daughter Kristin L. Brown (Bob) of Chelsea, AL; grandsons Brandon R. Brown and Kyle W. Brown; granddaughter Emily K. Brown; daughter Alissa L. Darnell (Jonathan) of Winder and grandson Gunnar G. Darnell; and her brother Robert Bergquist of Maumee, OH.
A celebration of her life will be at 11:00 a.m. on June 27, 2015, at Oconee Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or the charity of choice.