This was my Grandfather by adoption. Of course, since I was not born until 1953, he died long before I was born, so unfortunately I never knew him personally.
He was Vice President of the Farmer's & Merchant's Bank in Gardena, CA - was a Real Estate Broker, and was Past Master of the Gardena FreeMason's Lodge #732. He had 4 living children, and owned much of Gardena, when, in 1929, Last Rites were held on May 24th, 1929 leaving Verner W. Gray at 51 or 52 (One news clipping says he was 51 another says 52) - (I don't have his birthdate only the year he was born.) years old when he passed away. He was suddenly killed driving my father's Model-A Ford down Vermont Ave. in Gardena, on his way, very early in the morning for a fishing expedition.
Because he left no will, and because we all know what happened in 1929 to America's financial industries, all that property fell into probate court where it stayed until 5 years later. None of his remaining family had the money, in 1934, to pay off 5 year's worth of back taxes, so all of the property, except for the home site, was lost to the Federal Govt. who in turn, used the property for a Japanese re-internment camp.
Incidentally, I have been told that the Logan Berry was developed on his berry ranch.
The Newspaper article read: "CRASH THAT KILLED BANKER
Dies On Way To Beach - Verner Gray, Gardena Banker, was fatally injured yesterday when his car was struck by another machine. Gray was traveling to the beach for a fishing expedition when the accident occurred in the 16800 block of South Vermont avenue. VERNER GRAY, BANKER, DIES AFTER CRASH Verner Gray, 51, vice president of the Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank of Gardena, died at 4:35 p.m. yesterday at Hermosa-Redondo Hospital of a skull fracture received in an auto accident. Redondo police reported Gray was attempting a left-hand turn in the 16800 block of South Vermont Avenue. A car driven by George Isenbach of 4162 South Fugueroa street slammed into the side of Gray's auto, hurling him through the windshield and across the street, where he struck his head on the curb. Gray was one of the best known residents of the Gardena district, having lived in that vicinity for nearly 40 years. Funeral arrangelments were held in abeyance last night pending instructions from Coroner Frank Nance."
He was Vice President of the Farmer's & Merchant's Bank in Gardena, CA - was a Real Estate Broker, and was Past Master of the Gardena FreeMason's Lodge #732. He had 4 living children, and owned much of Gardena, when, in 1929, Last Rites were held on May 24th, 1929 leaving Verner W. Gray at 51 or 52 (One news clipping says he was 51 another says 52) - (I don't have his birthdate only the year he was born.) years old when he passed away. He was suddenly killed driving my father's Model-A Ford down Vermont Ave. in Gardena, on his way, very early in the morning for a fishing expedition.
Because he left no will, and because we all know what happened in 1929 to America's financial industries, all that property fell into probate court where it stayed until 5 years later. None of his remaining family had the money, in 1934, to pay off 5 year's worth of back taxes, so all of the property, except for the home site, was lost to the Federal Govt. who in turn, used the property for a Japanese re-internment camp.
Incidentally, I have been told that the Logan Berry was developed on his berry ranch.
The Newspaper article read: "CRASH THAT KILLED BANKER
Dies On Way To Beach - Verner Gray, Gardena Banker, was fatally injured yesterday when his car was struck by another machine. Gray was traveling to the beach for a fishing expedition when the accident occurred in the 16800 block of South Vermont avenue. VERNER GRAY, BANKER, DIES AFTER CRASH Verner Gray, 51, vice president of the Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank of Gardena, died at 4:35 p.m. yesterday at Hermosa-Redondo Hospital of a skull fracture received in an auto accident. Redondo police reported Gray was attempting a left-hand turn in the 16800 block of South Vermont Avenue. A car driven by George Isenbach of 4162 South Fugueroa street slammed into the side of Gray's auto, hurling him through the windshield and across the street, where he struck his head on the curb. Gray was one of the best known residents of the Gardena district, having lived in that vicinity for nearly 40 years. Funeral arrangelments were held in abeyance last night pending instructions from Coroner Frank Nance."
This was my Grandfather by adoption. Of course, since I was not born until 1953, he died long before I was born, so unfortunately I never knew him personally.
He was Vice President of the Farmer's & Merchant's Bank in Gardena, CA - was a Real Estate Broker, and was Past Master of the Gardena FreeMason's Lodge #732. He had 4 living children, and owned much of Gardena, when, in 1929, Last Rites were held on May 24th, 1929 leaving Verner W. Gray at 51 or 52 (One news clipping says he was 51 another says 52) - (I don't have his birthdate only the year he was born.) years old when he passed away. He was suddenly killed driving my father's Model-A Ford down Vermont Ave. in Gardena, on his way, very early in the morning for a fishing expedition.
Because he left no will, and because we all know what happened in 1929 to America's financial industries, all that property fell into probate court where it stayed until 5 years later. None of his remaining family had the money, in 1934, to pay off 5 year's worth of back taxes, so all of the property, except for the home site, was lost to the Federal Govt. who in turn, used the property for a Japanese re-internment camp.
Incidentally, I have been told that the Logan Berry was developed on his berry ranch.
The Newspaper article read: "CRASH THAT KILLED BANKER
Dies On Way To Beach - Verner Gray, Gardena Banker, was fatally injured yesterday when his car was struck by another machine. Gray was traveling to the beach for a fishing expedition when the accident occurred in the 16800 block of South Vermont avenue. VERNER GRAY, BANKER, DIES AFTER CRASH Verner Gray, 51, vice president of the Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank of Gardena, died at 4:35 p.m. yesterday at Hermosa-Redondo Hospital of a skull fracture received in an auto accident. Redondo police reported Gray was attempting a left-hand turn in the 16800 block of South Vermont Avenue. A car driven by George Isenbach of 4162 South Fugueroa street slammed into the side of Gray's auto, hurling him through the windshield and across the street, where he struck his head on the curb. Gray was one of the best known residents of the Gardena district, having lived in that vicinity for nearly 40 years. Funeral arrangelments were held in abeyance last night pending instructions from Coroner Frank Nance."
He was Vice President of the Farmer's & Merchant's Bank in Gardena, CA - was a Real Estate Broker, and was Past Master of the Gardena FreeMason's Lodge #732. He had 4 living children, and owned much of Gardena, when, in 1929, Last Rites were held on May 24th, 1929 leaving Verner W. Gray at 51 or 52 (One news clipping says he was 51 another says 52) - (I don't have his birthdate only the year he was born.) years old when he passed away. He was suddenly killed driving my father's Model-A Ford down Vermont Ave. in Gardena, on his way, very early in the morning for a fishing expedition.
Because he left no will, and because we all know what happened in 1929 to America's financial industries, all that property fell into probate court where it stayed until 5 years later. None of his remaining family had the money, in 1934, to pay off 5 year's worth of back taxes, so all of the property, except for the home site, was lost to the Federal Govt. who in turn, used the property for a Japanese re-internment camp.
Incidentally, I have been told that the Logan Berry was developed on his berry ranch.
The Newspaper article read: "CRASH THAT KILLED BANKER
Dies On Way To Beach - Verner Gray, Gardena Banker, was fatally injured yesterday when his car was struck by another machine. Gray was traveling to the beach for a fishing expedition when the accident occurred in the 16800 block of South Vermont avenue. VERNER GRAY, BANKER, DIES AFTER CRASH Verner Gray, 51, vice president of the Farmers' and Merchants' National Bank of Gardena, died at 4:35 p.m. yesterday at Hermosa-Redondo Hospital of a skull fracture received in an auto accident. Redondo police reported Gray was attempting a left-hand turn in the 16800 block of South Vermont Avenue. A car driven by George Isenbach of 4162 South Fugueroa street slammed into the side of Gray's auto, hurling him through the windshield and across the street, where he struck his head on the curb. Gray was one of the best known residents of the Gardena district, having lived in that vicinity for nearly 40 years. Funeral arrangelments were held in abeyance last night pending instructions from Coroner Frank Nance."
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Buried next to Nellie F. Gray.
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