Memorial service for kayaking victim, formerly of Gilpin, set in Kiski Township

A memorial service for a former Gilpin woman who died in a kayaking accident on a West Virginia river is set for Saturday.

A wife and mother of two children, Jamie Gray went missing on Feb. 9 while kayaking with nine other people on a remote section of Middle Fork River in Barbour County. Her body was recovered Feb. 17.

According to information provided by Bauer Funeral & Cremation Services, Gray’s family and friends will be received Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church at 2264 Garretts Run Road, Kiski Township (Ford City mailing address). A memorial service will be afterward with the Rev. Barbara Love officiating.

Gray, 41, was born Nov. 8, 1978 in New Kensington to Larry McKee of Washington, Pa., and Betty (Miller) McKee of Shelocta, according to her obituary. She later lived in Gilpin.

She was a 1997 graduate of the Lenape Vo-Tech computer science program. Gray earned her associate’s degree in information technology from Bradford Business School, and a bachelor’s degree from Point Park University. She worked as a systems analyst at Healthcare Management Solutions in Fairmont, W.Va.

She re-established the Girl Scout Program in the Hacker Valley area and was a board member of the Holly River State Park.

She is survived by her parents; husband, Walter “Wally” Gray; two daughters, Adi and Sadie, both at home; grandmother; Shirley Claypool of Shelocta; sister, Mary McKee of Ford City; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many friends.

A GoFundMe campaign was established to help her family. It raised more than $13,500 of its $20,000 goal as of Feb. 27.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in Jamie’s honor to Holly River State Park, 680 State Park Road, Hacker Valley, WVa. 26222.