Oklahoma County District Judge Twyla Mason Gray, who served in the House of Representatives from 1980 to 1984, died Monday at age 56. Gray was a native Tulsan and former mayoral chief of staff.
House Speaker Kris Steele issued the following statement on her passing:
“The Oklahoma House of Representatives is saddened by the loss of a distinguished former member, Twyla Mason Gray. During her service in the House in the early 1980s, Judge Gray’s intellect and deep interest in the greater good made it obvious that she was destined for a long and successful career in public service. Her unwavering commitment to service and strong desire to help others will be greatly missed. The thoughts and prayers of the House of Representatives are with her family at this difficult time."
Gray died Monday after a lengthy fight with breast cancer.
Judge Gray, born Oct. 26, 1954, was a native of Tulsa who graduated from Tulsa Memorial High School in 1972. She attended the University of Central Oklahoma and earned her J. D. from the University of Tulsa. She worked in private industry as general counsel and chief financial officer for Laser Tech Color and as an executive for B/M/C Advertising.
Her public service roles included service as a member of the Oklahoma Legislature from 1980 through 1984 and as chief of staff for Tulsa Mayor Terry Young. She also served as an assistant to Congressman James Jones of Tulsa and as a municipal judge for the City of Oklahoma City.
Judge Gray was elected District Judge in 1998 and was subsequently elected to three additional terms. In 2008 the Oklahoma Gang Investigators Association named her Judge of the Year. She was an active member of the Oklahoma and Oklahoma County Bar Associations and the Oklahoma Judicial Conference.
Judge Gray was also active in many community organizations, including Redlands Council Girl Scouts, who named her a Woman of Distinction in 2002. She was a member of Class XIV of Leadership Oklahoma City and was named an outstanding alumna by UCO, where she was a member of the College of Liberal Arts Advisory Board.
She served on the boards of the YMCA, the Recovery Coalition, the House Campaign for Oklahoma Kids and the Travelers Aid Society, and was a preceptor at the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Judge Gray was also an active volunteer and supporter of the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and a member of Acts2 United Methodist Church in Edmond, where she served on the Administrative Council. Judge Gray was also active in the Stephens Ministry, a lay outreach project of her church. She was a member of the South Oklahoma City Rotary Club.
Following her diagnosis of breast cancer, Judge Gray continued to serve actively on the bench and as a volunteer mentor for other breast cancer patients.
Judge Gray is survived by her husband, Charles, of the home; her mother, Mildred Mason of Tulsa; a daughter, Sarah; brother, Brian; nephew, Billy; nieces, Jennifer and Lauren. She was preceded in death by her father, Willard Mason, and sister, Teresa.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m, Thursday at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 222 Northwest 15th, with Vondel Smith Mortuary - South in charge of arrangements.