Gary Gray Obituary

Gary Gene Gray, of Pleasant Hill, died Wednesday, September 30, 2021, at home. He was 90 years old. Services will be held at a later date.

Gary was born April 2, 1931, in Grinnell to Robert and Rose (Stahl) Gray. He spent most of his childhood in Marshalltown and graduated from Alden High School. After high school, he began working for the IDOT. He also helped his dad, who ran a circuit of movie theaters in small towns, where he met Sharon Thornburg. They were married on September 12th, 1954, and raised three daughters in Des Moines.

Gary loved roads. If he knew you were going on a trip, he would ask how you were going to get there, what interstates you were driving on and where you were planning to stop. He always had an atlas handy and would pull it out to show you a new route to try.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sharon; three daughters: Cindy Howell (Fred), of Cumming, IA, Linda Carlson (Ric), of Bend, OR, and Christi Gray (Rich Kelley) of Altoona, IA; five grandchildren: Jennifer Gohring (Mike), Joshua Phillips, Erin Conner (Steve), Emily Stout (Brett), and Jake Stout (Payton); seven great-grandchildren: Samantha, Kyle, Wyatt, Evelyn, Beckam, Zaylee and Slade; and one brother, Bob Gray.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Care Initiatives Hospice, 7055 Vista Dr, West Des Moines, IA, 50266.

ARRANGEMENTS BY ILES GRANDVIEW PARK CHAPEL

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