With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Carol Ann Gray, our loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all whose lives she touched. Mohegan Tribal Elder, Carol “Flowing Waters” Gray, age 82, of Uncasville, CT, left us while sleeping peacefully on Monday, February 1, 2021, at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London, CT. She was born to the late Joseph D. Gray Sr. and Beatrice Irene Adams Gray on February 5, 1938, in New London, CT. Our mother came into the world as a “Storm to be reckoned with,” so it was so understandable that she left in a “Storm to be reckoned with” this past week. She was a genuine, selfless, loving mother, grandmother and friend to all that knew her. She had resided at Fort Hill Community located in Uncasville, CT, since the opening of the property in 2001. These are the residences of many Mohegan Tribal Elders, and where she became even more well known as, “Nana Carol”. Her most loving profession was being a homemaker to her very large family. Her Mohegan tribal roots extend back to the Mohegan tribal leader Mary Tracy Fielding Story and her late father Joseph D. Gray Sr. For many years leading up to her passing, she was an avid world traveler, card player and loved to play bingo every chance she could. By our estimates, she has traveled to every U.S. state and over 20 countries—a million miles of contagious smiles. She loved taking cruises with her daughters, friends and family to many places throughout the world. She loved hitting the road any chance she could! Some of our fondest memories are the love songs that had been sung to her from many Elvis Presley impersonators—just to her and for her. She had a love for Elvis, Elvis, Elvis and more Elvis all of the time! She also loved playing the many card games of skill, like Skip Bo, Five Crowns and Phase 10 with family and friends (always a small wager to play and maybe a dropped card on the floor from time to time). The belly rolling laughs and good times of these remembrances will live on forever in the hearts and minds of so many. During her final days, she was surrounded by her many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Love and caring were around her at every moment during her life. She was given an abundance of love at the end of her life; listening to the gospel sounds of Elvis as she left this life and moved onto her next. Survivors include her sister, seven children and a tribe of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her sister, Elsie Coleman and husband Chuck of Florida; daughter Donna Haney and husband, Steve of Uncasville, CT; daughter, Lydia Hubbell and deceased husband, David of Quaker Hill, CT; son Jeffrey Bozsum of Uncasville, CT; son Bruce Bozsum of Uncasville, CT; daughter Kimberlee Fister and husband John of Uncasville, CT; Brian Bozsum and wife Jennifer of North Stonington, CT; and son Michael Bozsum and wife Laurie of South Carolina. Nana Carol, as she is famously known, leaves behind 18 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren with twin great- grandbabies arriving this coming May. She is Gone You can shed tears that she is gone Or you can smile because she has lived You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left Your heart can be empty because you can't see her Or you can be full of the love that you shared You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday You can remember her and only that she is gone Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on. Poem by David Harkins A final word from your mother and grandmother, to all my children and you little shitheads, and you know who you are, just know that I will always be watching over you as I cruise through my eternal travels. A Celebration of Carol’s Life will be held this coming spring at Fort Shantok located in Uncasville, CT. Details to be shared at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of her favorite charities—the Diabetes Foundation—online at https://secure.donationpay.org/diabetes/holiday.php or by mail at The Diabetes Foundation, Inc., 411 Hackensack Avenue, Suite 702, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601. A special thanks to Ryan Landry for snow transportation of family members during this difficult time. The Woyasz & Son Funeral Service of Uncasville is entrusted with the arrangements. If you’d like to share an online condolence message with Carol’s family, please visit the Tribute Wall above.