Sanford resident Debra Lynn Cornum-Gray, 66, passed away on Jan. 7, 2023.  She was born on Sept. 21, 1956, in Albuquerque, N.M., to Duwayne and Voris (Miller) Cornum. She married Jack Russell Gray on Aug. 1, 1987, in the Denver Temple. Following the wedding she and Jack moved to Albuquerque, where they resided for 27 years. They were blessed to have many friends and really enjoyed their time in Albuquerque before moving back to the Valley.  

Debra had a very joyful disposition; she was always found with a smile even in difficult circumstances and she brought joy to those around her.  She enjoyed music and was very musically talented. Debra taught herself to play by ear and had a beautiful singing voice. Her mother taught her to do handwork; which she enjoyed cross stitching, latch hook and canvas needlepoint. She also had a passion for playing cards and games, there were many hours spent playing and laughing with family and friends. She cherished her family, treating her nieces and nephews like her own and often found babysitting children around the community.

She is survived by her husband Jack R. Gray of La Jara, her siblings, Tennis (Donna) Cornum of Burleson, Texas, Hal (Mary) Cornum of Carlsbad, N.M., Myrna (Dennis) Moeller of Antonito, and Marilee (Pat) Vannoy of Sanford, her nieces and nephews, Darren, Tony and Andrea Cornum; Erika, Matt, Boe, Terrill, Travis and Kip Norton; Tysen, Burke, Natalie, Trent and Carson Cornum; Chas, Taunee, Mandy, Kami, Landon, Shelby and Shanay Moeller; Wendi, Leslie, Brandon and Brooke Vannoy, two living aunts, Enid Miller Lindsay of Colorado Springs and Judy Cornum Parrish of Sanford as well as numerous grand nieces and nephews and extended family.

Debra was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Sherry and Bob Scheibe and Renie and Dallas Norton, her nephew Kevin Scheibe, niece, Myla Cornum-Jordan, grandnephews Taj Cornum and Brett McDaniel.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2023, at the Sanford Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will follow in the Sanford Cemetery.

To express condolences, please visit www.rogersfunerals.com. Rogers Family Mortuary in Alamosa is in care of the arrangements.