In our obituaries last week, there was a man listed among them by the name of Frank Gray. You may not have known him, because he wasn’t in any clubs and he probably never attended a Town Council meeting. But he loved his hometown of Fountain Hills.

He and his beloved wife, Hazel, moved to Fountain Hills in 1974. They met when both were working for the ElectroMotive Division of General Motors Corporation.

While Frank was not too involved, Hazel was very active with the Fountain Hills Women’s Club, particularly the annual House Walk and Bazaar fundraiser. She also was a terrific yodeler, a talent she revealed at a community talent show.

For being someone not involved, Frank had his picture in the paper a number of times in the early years. One I ran across while researching for our 40th anniversary edition was at the opening of the Robertson Factories drapery manufacturing plant. He went to the grand opening and he was watching a seamstress sew together pieces of fabric for some ready-made curtains. I snapped the picture and it came out good enough that I placed it on the front page.

The Grays also attended the signing ceremony when Fountain Hills officially became a Sister City to Kasterlee, Belgium. I had no idea until I read the obituary last week that Frank had any ties to Belgium.

He had fought in the famous “Battle of the Bulge” in Belgium during World War II. He became an authority in the new technology of radar.

His four-man unit earned a commendation for their bravery, crossing into enemy territory to repair damaged radar systems.

Since Hazel died about five years ago, Frank was a familiar face in town restaurants.

Before he moved to New Jersey last month, I would have lunch every Sunday with my grandson, Hunter, at Denny’s and Frank was usually there enjoying his pot roast dinner.

I called Hunter to inform him about Frank dying from cancer. He said, “That’s unfortunate, he was a nice man, he seemed lonely, but happy.”

I think you just described Frank Gray, Hunter.

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Moving on to another sad note, the River of Time Museum lost a very good friend and supporter with the recent death of Mary Zicarelli.

She served on the board of directors of the River of Time Museum Foundation and was inducted into the Lower Verde River Valley Hal of Fame in 2008.

Visitors to Rio Verde for many years she and her late husband, Robert, became permanent residents in 1986.

Shortly after its founding, she became a member of the Rio Verde Community Church and helped organize the church library. She served on the church’s board and was a member of the church’s building committee when the new church and chapel were built.

In addition to the church and museum, she was an active supporter of many Valley organizations. They include Friends of the Orphans, Sunshine Acres, the Courage Center in Minneapolis, PEO, Mayo Clinic of Arizona and the Phoenix Symphony.