Jule Ann Loy Gray, 76, passed away on April 10, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa.

A visitation will be held from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at First Church of Christ (310 N.W. Ash, Ankeny). Memorial Service will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a luncheon to follow, also at the church.

Jule Ann Loy Gray was born on July 18, 1949, to Eloha Marie Neff in Glenwood, Iowa. Her father had been killed in a traffic accident prior to her birth. Eloha suffered greatly due to this loss and was institutionalized. Jule became a ward of the state upon her birth. Jule’s birth name was Marlene Marie Neff. She was adopted by Fred and Alice Sturzenegger and given the name Jule Ann. She adored her father and loved working with him on the family farm. Fred was an elder at Trinity Lutheran church in Creston and was well respected in the community. Jule later played the organ at the church.

She went on to serve many years as a deputy for the Union County Sheriff’s Department in Creston. While working there, she met and married her beloved husband, Don Loy. They were married on April 11, 1986, and enjoyed six, brief but beautiful years together. Following Don’s passing from cancer on October 7, 1992, Jule moved to Des Moines, IA. She began actively searching for her biological family. Unbeknownst to Jule, her brothers were searching for her as well. In December of 1994, her oldest brother Henry, through numerous conversations, contacted Jo Duckworth who was Jule’s close friend and coworker at the Sheriff’s office. She knew that Jule had always wanted to be part of a big family and was working to find hers. Jo facilitated a meeting between Henry and Jule in January of 1995. A couple of days later, Jule met her brother Ken, and he brought her to meet a large part of her family in Council Bluffs. She was welcomed with open arms and a lot of love on January 29, 1995. This day included her first meeting with her mother, Eloha Marie, her half-sister, Bonnie Gary, sisters-in-law, Shirley Neff and Linda Neff, nieces, Tami Nelson, Lori Neff, Juli Radcliff, Kristi Corley, Karena Nelson, Vanessa Fisher, Malinda Lincoln, and many others. This exciting day was captured and aired by the local NBC television station.

Jule later moved to Des Moines for a job and met John Gray. They were married June 22, 1996. Jule was so excited to have her brothers Henry and Ken escort her down the aisle. John and Jule lived next door to good friends Larry and Nonie Rush, who introduced them to Rising Sun Church of Christ. Jule and John were baptized by their minister, Doug Raymond, and became members of the church. John passed away in 2006 after suffering from a heart condition.

Jule later moved to Ankeny and became a member of First Church of Christ (FCC), where she met and became very close friends with Nancy and Dennis Dorsheimer, the Minister to Seniors. The three of them enjoyed quality time in conversation as they visited one another or went to appointments together. Jule had many loving and supportive friends in the church and enjoyed going to lunch with several of them after church. She loved being part of the Ladies’ Bible Study and enjoyed serving however she was able. Jule was the treasurer for the Christian Evangelistic Mission and was honored for ten years of service. She had recently become the treasurer for the missions committee at FCC.

On April 10, 2026, Jule gained her heavenly reward. She passed away peacefully at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines after a short and unexpected battle with leukemia. She loved reading and learning about heaven and had many questions about what it would be like. No longer does she see through a glass darkly; now she knows exactly what heaven is like.

She is survived by her brothers, David (Carmen) Carter and Ronald Carter; sisters-in-law, Shirley Neff and Linda Neff; and many nieces and nephews. Jule will be lovingly remembered by a host of family and friends.

Jule was preceded in death by her mother, Eloha Marie Richardson Neff Carter; father, Francis Neff; adoptive parents, Fred and Alice Sturzenegger; brothers, Henry Neff and Kenneth Neff; sisters, Rebecka Caddell and Bonnie Gary; and nephews, Zachary Nelson and Nolan Lincoln.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to CEM (Christian Evangelistic Mission).

Visitation

Apr

25

First Church of Christ

310 NW Ash Dr.
Ankeny, IA 50023

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Memorial Service

Apr

25

First Church of Christ

310 NW Ash Dr.
Ankeny, IA 50023

10:30 AM