Florene “Flo” Gray and her husband, Jim Gray, married in 1953. After their daughter, Susan Shirley, was born, Flo Gray decided to leave her job. She wanted to be a stay-at-home mother to Susan and her son, David Gray.
But life had other plans. When Susan was just a toddler, Flo Gray went back to work in the legal world. The Plant City resident turned 85 in July — and has yet to retire.
“I started to think, ‘Maybe I’m pushing it a little,’” Flo Gray, who works as a legal assistant at Trinkle, Redman, Coton, Davis and Smith, P.A., said. “But I’ve been blessed with good health. It’s been nice. I’ve enjoyed the profession. I don’t just call it a job.”
On the Same Block
Flo Gray, who graduated from Plant City High School in 1949, had some secretarial experience. In high school, she had enrolled in diversified cooperative training.
“A friend was signing up for it, and I decided to do it too,” Flo Gray said. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do.”
Through the program, which allowed her to work with local businesses, she learned typing, dictation and other secretarial duties. After high school, she did payroll for Southland Frozen Foods. It was there she met Jim Gray, who was a cold storage manager.
Flo Gray’s legal career began in July 1959, when she was brought on as a legal assistant for then-City Attorney Paul Buchman. Buchman reached out to her and requested her for the job. Though Flo Gray was taking care of her mother at the time, Buchman helped her create a schedule she could work around.
“He was such a nice person,” Flo Gray said. “I enjoyed it, and I still enjoy it every day. I’ve been working on the same block since 1959.”
When Buchman called her in 1959, Flo Gray didn’t have any legal experience. She learned on the job — something she’s continued to do over the last six decades.
“You learn it little by little,” Flo Gray said.
An Extended Family
Flo Gray continued to work as a legal assistant when current City Attorney Ken Buchman took over. She moved on in 1991 after she was contacted by the late Jim Redman, whom she had gone to high school with. Like Paul Buchman, he offered her a position as a legal assistant.
She’s been with Trinkle Law ever since. Today, she’s serves as the legal assistant to Danny Coton.
“I know this is the last public job I’ll ever have,” Flo Gray said.
As a legal assistant, Flo Gray is responsible for the daily activities of keeping a law office running: from greeting clients and writing letters to overseeing wills, estate planning and probate work.
“I just love the day to day,” Flo Gray said.
Looking back, Flo Gray said she never suspected she would still be working at 85. Her family, she added, has been supportive through it all.
“(Jim Gray) retired in 1988. He never asked me when I would retire,” Flo Gray said. “He said, ‘Honey, it’s up to you if you want to work.’ I guess it’s just enjoying the continuity. I love Plant City. I love a small town. I’ve got friends here, and we have a very supportive family.”
She’s grateful for the people she’s met over the years and the friends she’s made — from former clients to their children and grandchildren.
“You get to talk with the clients,” she said. “I like getting to intermingle with them. You feel like when they leave, they’re friends. So I like that.”
Her son lives in the area, and her daughter lives in Lithia. She and her husband will celebrate their 63rd year of marriage in November.
“Not many people get to make it that long,” she said. “It’s been a great marriage. It’s been a really happy marriage.”
Though Flo Gray expects to retire in the near future, she remains motivated in her work.
“(The best part) is when you realize you accomplish something and do a good job at something you were given,” she said. “Any job is going to have good or bad moments … but you have to be motivated to do a good job. The responsibilities that come with the profession are not to be taken lightly. I like the challenge of doing it right and being proud of what you do.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.