Wanda Jean (Groves) Gray, 77, of Sanger passed away on Thursday, August 11, 2022 in Sanger. She was born July 4, 1945 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky to Johnny Groves and Ruth (Scott) Hunter.   She married young and started a family soon after; a family that she would lead as a strong and steady matriarch, raising five boys and one girl, creating a beautiful legacy.

Wanda worked many jobs and made friends wherever she went.  She had a gift of making people feel safe around her.  Although she was small in stature, she left a big impression on all who knew her.  She had a work ethic unlike any other, always doing whatever she could to make ends meet and ensure her children were cared for.

Her loyal and loving heart carried over into the generations of her family.  At any time, you could find cars lined up in front of her home in Sanger.  Sons and daughter and their spouses, grandkids, great-grandkids, friends, and neighbors would come sit at her kitchen table and enjoy a hot cup of coffee.  Everyone was always welcome at Wanda's home. She made it a place where you could come as you were and she expected nothing different.  She loved that way, too. There was never any judgement with Wanda; simply love.

In 2015, Wanda lost the love of her life, Dave, her husband of 25 years.  Although this was a life changing moment for her, she never gave up on her own life, even after she was diagnosed with stage four cancer.  The doctors told her she had weeks to live; Wanda once again showed her strength and tenacity by living for eight more years.  Her family will forever be grateful for her willingness to defeat every odd, as she had done so many times in her life.

She is survived by her sons Michael (Jody) Collendrina and wife Jennifer of Sanger, John (Bodie) Collendrina and wife Michelle of Lewisville, Tim Collendrina of Sanger, and Jim Collendrina of Sanger, daughter Sheila (Collendrina) Hughes and husband Curtis of Argyle; sisters Linda Colley and Willa Dean Morgan, fifteen grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, David Gray; son, Ricky Collendrina; her mother and father, Johnny Groves and Ruth Hunter; sisters, Rebecca Groves, Cynthia Groves, and Helen Groves; her brother, Wade Groves; and her grandson, Christopher Collendrina.

The family will receive friends on Monday, August 15, 2022 from 5 pm to 7 pm at DeBerry Funeral Directors in Denton, Texas. Funeral services will be held in the Chapel of DeBerry Funeral Directors on Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 10:00 AM. Wanda will be interred at the Dallas / Ft. Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas next to her husband, Dave.