Joan Edith (Delbridge/Squair) Gray

Joan has entered into eternal rest and is at peace after a lifetime of caring for and helping others. Her family and friends take comfort in knowing that the Lord has a special place waiting for Joan to be reunited with her beloved parents William and Edith, her dear brother Clayton and her loving and devoted husband Ron.

Joan is survived by a loving family that will forever cherish memories of her warm and generous heart: her sisters Linda and Karen and brother Frank, son Bryan, grandchildren William, Taylor and Hannah and great-grandchildren Asher, Micah, Ruth and Eden.

Joan’s life began in a warm loving family on a farm near Poplar Point, MB.

At age 13 she and her siblings witnessed and survived a horrifically violent event where their parents were murdered in their family home. When help finally arrived the next morning the police promptly shot the family pet dog and took the children away. There was no grief nor trauma counselling in 1949. Mere survival was the only concern then. The Delbridge children were blessed to be able to stay together when a nearby family took them all in as adoptees.

Surviving horrific violence and being thrust into a maternal caring role at 13 as the eldest sibling shaped the rest of Joan’s life. Drawing upon her incredible strength and faith, she cared for her siblings and began working to help pay for her younger sister to be able to finish secondary school in order to go to college.

Joan became a teacher and has left a legacy of decades of youth who lovingly referred to her as “Mother Gray”. She taught English and provided guidance and crisis counselling to youth for over thirty years. Current and former students visited her home year-round at times of crisis and also just to thank her for helping them during difficult times in the past.

Messages of condolences from former students across the country include countless accolades like, “my best teacher ever”, “she made such a difference in my life”, “she was my guiding light” and “she made a big difference in this world for so many people.”

Joan was proud of the many teaching awards she received and also her special lifetime achievement award from Planned Parenthood as she took a pragmatic approach to her religious faith and never judged youth nor forced her own beliefs upon persons who were struggling to make difficult choices.

In addition to Joan’s legacy of helping youth in need, she has left a beautiful legacy in her own family of her son and grandchildren who have all distinguished themselves as leaders in their academic endeavors. And also in their career paths where they help others just as Joan did her whole life.

In her retirement, Joan enjoyed travel visiting friends and family across the continent and to Europe and Scandinavia. She was active in her St. James Anglican parish and oversaw beautiful and award-winning gardening works in her yard as carried out by her Ron. She and Ron were also active in helping many new Canadians arriving in their small community get settled and establish a household.

And most of all, Joan was active and present in the lives of her son and grandchildren whom she adored and doted on. Never missing a special occasion, sports game, dance recital or dramatic production. Anyone who would listen to Joan would see photos of and hear how amazing her son and grandchildren were.

Joan’s son Bryan and his children fund an annual Ron and Joan Gray Memorial Scholarship for Community Service awarded to a graduating student from the Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute who will be continuing their studies in a caring profession.

You are welcome to join Joan’s family in honoring her life lived and her legacy of helping others by attending a Memorial Service on Friday, June 5th, 2026 at 2:00 PM, at the Neepawa United - Anglican Church, 475 Mountain Ave, Neepawa Manitoba. 

A donation to the cancer society in lieu of flowers (or homemade cookies) would be greatly appreciated.

Arrangements entrusted to Ronald Moffit Memorial Services of Portage la Prairie, MB. 

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