Gwen Gray (Derichs)

Gwen C. Gray (Derichs), age 53 of Melrose, died peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Thursday, May 21, 2015 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A gather of family and friends will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Friday, May 29 at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. A private inurnment will be held at a later date.

Gwen Caroline Schreifels was born July 25, 1961 in Melrose, Minnesota to Cyril and Valeria (Stueve) Schreifels. On May 3, 1980 she married Thomas "Tom" Derichs at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Tom passed away on December 6, 2006. On December 27, 2008 she married Lyle Gray. Gwen worked at Midwest Screen Printing in Melrose until 2008 when she moved to Washington. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Sauk Centre and in Washington. Gwen enjoyed playing cards, crocheting, traveling, and loved playing with her granddaughter.

Survivors include her husband, Lyle Gray of Entiat, Washington; mother, Valeria Schreifels of Melrose; children, Shawn Derichs of Melrose, Sara Derichs of Waite Park, and Shane (Stacie) Derichs of Hutchinson; granddaughter, Zoey Derichs; brothers and sisters, Diane (Bernie) Bueckers of Albany, Earl (Lynn) Schreifels of Arizona, Dale (Cheryl) Schreifels of Ramsey, Gary (Jan) Schreifels of Glencoe, Keith (Barb) Schreifels of Monticello, Dave (Karen) Schreifels of North Carolina, and Sue (Greg) Ramler of Albany; and many loving relatives and friends.

Gwen was preceded in death by her first husband, Thomas "Tom" Derichs; father, Cyril Schreifels; and sister, Jelene Hinnenkamp.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.