Dorothy Elizabeth England Gray, 91, passed away Sunday, August 23, 2026, at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Bowling Green, KY surrounded by her loved ones. Dorothy was the daughter of Clyde and Clara Mae Jones England. She was raised with her three brothers and one sister in the White Oak Ridge area of Monroe County, KY, where they worked as farmers. The England family grew up with a powerful sense of faith, an appreciation of hard work and a lot of pride and dignity.
Dorothy married Charles William “Bill” Gray, a WWII veteran, in 1950 at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Holland, KY. Bill said he first saw Dorothy on the steps at the Fountain Run High School and just ran up and kissed her right on the lips. When my mom asked why he had done that, he said, “well, you were just the prettiest thing I had ever seen.” Their first daughter, Rita Kaye, was born in 1952, followed by Beth Ann in 1963. Younger brother, Charles William Gray III (Chuck) joined the crew in 1969.
Dorothy was a Christian, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a grandmother, an aunt, a cousin, a friend and an unapologetic dedicated Democrat. In the pursuit of doing what is right, correcting wrongs, protecting the innocent and propagating peace and justice, Dorothy – alongside her friends, Bobbie Sue, Annice and other matriarchs of the Allen County Democratic party – worked innumerable hours and drove endless miles to spread the gospel of the Democratic Party. And they did so to significant effect.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Bill; her sweet daughter, Rita, and her husband, Jim; her brothers: Paul, William and Clyde Jr. England; her niece, Leslie Crabtree, and her nephews: Barry, Ronnie and Tim England.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter: Beth Travis and husband, Dr. Bill Travis, Bowling Green, KY; 1 son: Charles (Chuck) Gray and his partner, Lisa Barmore, Scottsville, KY; her grandchildren: Gabe Doss, Glasgow, KY; Olivia Edwardson and husband, Dr. Cam Wade, Cincinnati, OH; Tori Edwardson and fiance’, Trevor Neaveill, Louisville, KY and Jordan Copass, Bowling Green, KY; a sister: Mary Carol Barksdale and husband, Dr. James Barksdale, Bowling Green, KY; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
We want to extend our gratitude to the staff of Hosparus Health Barren River, particularly Beth Byrd, Angie McGrew, Scott Smith and the many others who made our lives much easier and more meaningful with their outstanding care. You truly enhanced our mother’s life.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, August 28, 2026, at Goad Funeral Home with Chaplain William Sofield officiating and burial in Fountain Run Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. Friday until funeral time at Goad Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Hosparus Health Barren River or the Kentucky Democratic Party. Donations may be made at Goad Funeral Home.
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