Kay Co., OK. Obit. Gertrude Arlene [Gray] Yanora ***************************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb by: Andy Leven USGenWeb Archives. Copyright. All rights reserved http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Ponca City News: Published Friday, May 23, 2003 Gertrude Arlene "Trudy" Yanora, former resident of Ponca City, died Tuesday, May 20, 2003, in Globe, Ariz., after a lengthy illness. She was 78. Trudy was born Sept. 17, 1924, in El Dorado, Kan., the daughter of Lyman O. Gray and Maria F. Leven Gray. She attended schools in numerous states as her father was employed in the oil fields. She graduated high school in McPherson, Kan. During World War II, she was proud to be a riveter working on B-17s and B-29s at the Boeing plant in Wichita, Kan. After the war, she was employed by Guinncraft Hobby Shop in Wichita, then in the jewelry business in California. From this work, she maintained a lifelong interest in crafts and jewelry. On Nov. 2, 1950, she married Martin R. "Marty" Yanora in Yuma, Ariz., and became an Air Force wife. One of the highlights of this time was on Jan. 24, 1952, when she and her husband, along with the crew, were guests of honor at the Hollywood premier and banquet for Republic Pictures movie "Wild Blue Yonder" starring Cornell Wilde. He and his crew were the actual ones flying in the movie. She lived at many air bases throughout the United States until her husband's retirement from the Air Force. She then traveled with him extensively in their own trucking business. After her husband's death in 1984, she bought property in Ponca City and lived there to be near her mother. After that she lived in Wichita, Kan., until ill health necessitated her move to Arizona to be near her only son. Survivors include her son, John F. Yanora and wife Margaret of Miami, Ariz.; a sister, Betty J. Darling of Mountain Home, Ind.; three brothers, Donald L. Gray and Stephen A. Gray, both of Ponca City, and John J. Gray of Mountain View, Ark.; four grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews in Ponca City. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. Funeral service times are pending. There will be a service at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Miami, Ariz., and a funeral mass at St. Mary's Church in Ponca City followed by burial in Newkirk Cemetery.