 BRAY, LILA MAY (LEWIS) The second child of eight, Lila May (Lewis) Bray was born in Elkhart, KS, December 5, 1927 to the late Clifford Hugh Gilbert Lewis and Thelma Fay (Dorris) Lewis. The family alternately moved between New Mexico, Kansas and California while Lila was growing up during the Great Depression. On April 1, 1949, Lila married Orval Leonard Bray in California, and there they added four children to their family. In 1978, the family moved back to New Mexico to be nearer to some of Lila's siblings who were her comfort when Orval passed away in 1981. A joy-filled Christian, quiet and loving, with a great sense of humor, yet an expressive mind of her own, Lila enjoyed reading and playing games with her family, attending church and hosting bible studies, as well as being a member of a bowling league and a crocheting club. However, if asked, Lila would tell you her greatest joy was being a wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother, sister and aunt. All who knew her unanimously agree that she had a gift for always making them feel loved and accepted. Lila dealt bravely with the trial of vascular dementia for the past eight years, alternately living with her daughters in Las Vegas, NV and Los Alamos, NM for the last six. She was mercifully healed at her eldest daughter's home on June 27, 2014 surrounded by her family's love, when she was peacefully ushered to her final home with her Savior Jesus Christ. She will continue to be greatly missed until we meet her there. She is survived by four children: Evelyn Fay Castillo (husband Robert Castillo) of Las Vegas, NV; Jeffrey Bray (ex-wife Marian Flandrick) of Rio Rancho, NM; Thomas Ned Bray (wife Connie Bray) of Gresham, OR; Heather Cunico (husband Craig Cunico) of Los Alamos, NM; ten grandchildren: Lukas Castillo (Christian); Rebekah Castillo; Timothy Castillo (Brittany) of NV; Andrew Castillo (Faith) of NJ; James Bray of OR; Piper Bray, and Domenic, Logan, Macklin and Gabriel Cunico of NM; great- grandchildren: Christopher, Nathan, Joshua, Hannah and Miriam Castillo and Angelica Ricarte. Lila was preceded in death by her sister Patsy Webster. Surviving siblings are: Hugh (Betty) Lewis; Henry (Liz) Lewis; Ronald Lewis; Rex (Sharon) Lewis; Karen (LeRoy) Ortega; and Thelma-Ann (Edward) Wilson; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial celebration of Lila's life will be held at 3:00 pm July 27, 2014, Crossroads Bible Church, 97 East Rd., Los Alamos, NM 87544. Cremains will be interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. The family thanks all who have expressed their caring concern and memories, and asks that in lieu of flowers, please send any honors to either Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation - 4141 Swenson St., Las Vegas, NV 89119, or Los Alamos Visiting Nurses and/or Hospice House- 2202 Canyon Rd., Los Alamos, NM 87544.
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