Sandra “Sandy” K. (Keller) Gray, age 80, of Albia, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, at Oakwood Specialty Care, under the care of Care Initiatives Hospice.
Sandy was born on April 29, 1946, in Des Moines, IA, to Robert L. and Catherine (Campbell) Keller. She grew up attending school in Des Moines. She began working for Tri-State Theatres in 1962 and graduated from Des Moines Technical High School in 1964. She continued to work for the Theatres until her marriage to Don Inman in 1967. They moved to Phoenix, AZ, where she worked at Phoenix Tallow Company until 1976 when she and Don divorced. Sandy moved back to Des Moines and worked at Younkers in the furniture warehouse for 16 years. In 1991 she moved to Melrose, IA, to own and operate the Old Red Barn. She left there in 1997 after her marriage to Steve Gray on January 1, 1997. Sandy and Steve moved to Albia in 1998 and Sandy went to work for Barkers Grain and Feed as a bookkeeper until they sold out. She was then employed at Adams Auto Body until 2000 when she went to work at Hy-Vee in Albia. She retired in 2011.
Sandy was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Albia. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 775 in Ottumwa. She served in many offices at the Local, District, and Department levels, serving as Department President in 2009-2010. Sandy was also a member of the Monroe County Hospital Auxiliary. She did a lot of volunteering, including working on the committee for the Welcome Home Soldier Monument. She also belonged to Women’s Club.
Sandy is survived by a daughter, Robin Inman of Des Moines; 3 stepchildren, Michelle (Doug) Weldon, Mike (Carrie) Gray, and Monica (Richard) Tharp all of Albia; grandchildren, Bobby Keller, Stacy Inman, and Tawny Rennenger; step grandchildren, Sydney (Zakk Dunn) Weldon, Hunter (Ivy) Weldon, Garrett (Nicole) Gray, and Cooper (Navy Grooms) Gray; 7 great grandchildren; 2 step great grandchildren and 1 on the way; a sister, Connie Keller of Des Moines; a brother, Larry Keller of Stacy, MN; and a sister-in-law, Susan Keller of San Diego, CA.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Steve Gray; her parents, Robert and Catherine Keller; a brother, Terry Keller; a nephew, Brian Keller; and a niece, Tracy Keller.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Sandy’s family present to greet family and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at the Tharp Funeral Home in Albia, with Father Isaac Essel officiating. Following services, Sandy’s body will be cremated and a private family burial will be held at the Hiteman Cemetery at a later date.
A memorial has been established to the family to be determined at a later date.
