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Janet Roberta Gray
Born: 8/30/1942
Died: 2/4/2026
Age: 83
Community: Columbiaville, MI
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Janet Roberta Gray, 83, of Columbiaville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 but, not before leaving a lasting imprint on everyone lucky enough to know her. Born August 30, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to William and Margaret Weiss, Janet lived her life with a rare combination of kindness, humor, and quiet strength.
Janet was selfless to a fault, funny in an understated, perfectly timed way, and blessed with an award-winning smile that made people feel instantly at ease. She would do absolutely anything for her family, and if someone else needed help along the way, she never hesitated to give it.
She graduated from Schenley High School in Pittsburgh, Class of 1960, and in 1963 married the love of her life, Howard Gray. Together, they built a life defined by devotion, laughter, and teamwork, sharing 63 remarkable years side by side.
For more than 30 years, Janet worked at Lapeer Hospital as an Imaging Sonographer, caring for patients with the same compassion she showed in her personal life. She was a devoted member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Lapeer, where she volunteered at the soup kitchen and Friday night dinners, quietly serving others in ways that mattered.
Janet found joy in the simple, meaningful things: spending time with family, tending to her garden, cooking for the people she loved (her chicken cacciatore was unbeatable), and making her famous raspberry jam. She also took pride in the years she and Howard spent running Seldom Rest Christmas Tree Farm, a reflection of their shared work ethic and the life they built together. She especially cherished the months spent each year at Colony Cove Senior Living Community in Florida, where friendships were easy, laughter was frequent, and life moved at a gentler pace.
Janet is survived by her beloved husband, Howard; her children, Howard (Lisa) Gray III of Shelbyville and Sandra (Michael) Windelspecht of Boone, North Carolina; six grandchildren Devin Windelspecht, Kayla Windelspecht, Hannah (Brett) Bauman, Gabrielle (Trevor) Clausen, Emily (Chase) Drobny, and Madelyn Gray; and her great-grandchild, Aiden Clausen, with another expected in May. She is also survived by her siblings, Gerald Weiss, David Weiss, and Karen Weiss McMullen.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Carol Weiss; and her brother, Robert Weiss.
Cremation has been entrusted to Muir Brothers Funeral Home in Lapeer. A memorial service at St. Paul Lutheran Church will be held at a later date, likely in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Paradise Animal Rescue in Lapeer. Memories and condolences may be shared at MuirBrothersLapeer.com
Janet’s legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched, the family she loved without limits, and the quiet, everyday kindness that made the world around her better, one smile, one meal, and one act of love at a time. |
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1/6/2026 |
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