Marianne Emilie Gray

Marianne Emilie Gray, 87, of Indianapolis, passed away October 2, 2025. She was born in Indianapolis on July 17, 1938, to Elmer Leroy and Cora Mae (Haslet) Gray. Her parents and her former husband, Richard Icard, preceded her in death. She was a 1956 graduate of Lawrence Central High School and a 1978 graduate of the University of Indianapolis. Ms. Gray also attended Indiana State University from 1956 to 1960. Ms. Gray served as sole parent and provider during most of her daughter’s early life. Together mother and daughter lived through good times and difficult times, each helping the other along the way. Their close bond was a lifelong friendship as well as a family relationship. Most of Ms. Gray’s work experience was at Fort Benjamin Harrison where she began her career as a clerk-typist in 1962 and retired as a supervisory management analyst/combat developer in 1993. As a management analyst/combat developer, Ms. Gray conducted research to determine manning standards for wartime units performing the wartime mission. In 1988, she became supervisor of the department which was organized under the Directorate of Combat Developments. During her almost 30-year federal career, Ms. Gray enjoyed a variety of work experiences. While at Goodfellow AFB Texas, Ms. Gray worked on the Department of Defense Project Cloud Gap, a classified secret test program (reports relating to Project Cloud Gap were declassified in 2014). At the U.S. Army Engineer Center, Fort Belvoir Virginia, Ms. Gray served as an editor of technical publications where she edited the U.S. Army Engineer War Game, several technical manuals, and soldier testing materials. A member of Sigma Kappa Sorority, which she pledged when she was a student at Indiana State University. Ms. Gray enjoyed playing her mountain dulcimer, embroidering, quilting, knitting, and playing hand bells at church. In later years, she served on both the Corporation Board and the Advisory Board of the Gamma Gamma chapter Sigma Kappa. Her volunteer efforts also included serving on the Board of Directors of Bentley Commons Homeowner Association and on the Board of Directors of American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis. Ms. Gray is survived by her daughter, Lois Icard Miller (Steve); grandchildren, Stephanie Anne Feeley (Blake) and Sarah Marie Miller; great-grandson, Barrett Thomas Feeley; great-granddaughter, Wren Jo Feeley; sister, Sally Gray Combs (Mike); three nieces, several great-nieces, and a great-nephew. Visitation will Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at 12 noon at Shirley Brothers Washington Memorial Chapel, 9606 East Washington Street. Entombment will follow at Washington Park East Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sigma Kappa National, Gamma Gamma Chapter, 695 Pro-Med Lane, Carmel, IN 46032 and/or Cumberland First Baptist Church, 116 S. Muessing Street, Indianapolis, IN 46229.

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Marianne Emilie Gray

July 17, 1938 - October 2, 2025