Lawrence "Harold" Gray, 88, of Altamont, died at 2:10 p.m., Thursday, November 6, 2008, at the Parsons Presbyterian Manor.
He was born January 20, 1920, to L. E. and Josie (McGuire) Gray on a farm east of Altamont. He attended schools in Labette County, graduating from Labette County Community High School in 1938, and attended Parsons Junior College for two years.
He enlisted in the United States Navy, in September 1941, and served all over the world during the war on naval and merchant marine ships. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in September 1945. During the Korean conflict, he re-enlisted in the United States Army, in August 1950, and served his country, in Korea, with the 930th Ordinance group from Parsons, Kansas, and was discharged in March 1952.
Harold married Teresa Florence Sailsbury in Los Angeles, California, in 1944. After his discharge from his military service, he lived in Parsons, Kansas, Jackson, Mississippi, and Wichita, Kansas. She preceded him in death on November 15, 1963, in Wichita. Following her death, he moved from Wichita to West Memphis, Arkansas, for a short period of time.
On June 28, 1966, he and Mildred Newbanks were married in Pueblo, Colorado, and returned to southeast Kansas to live. She preceded him in death on September 15, 1996.
After returning to southeast Kansas, he worked at Ray Products, in Parsons, for many years, retiring from there in the early 1980's.
He was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with bow and arrow and gun. He participated in many bowling leagues since the 1960's, bowling in several national tournaments. At the age of 88, he especially enjoyed bowling with the senior citizens league earlier this year in Parsons. He was the recipient of many bowling trophies which he proudly displayed in his home. He was instrumental in organizing the Horse Shoe Pitching League in Altamont, and helped build the horse shoe pits in the Altamont city park. He participated in many southeast Kansas horse shoe pitching tournaments and received many awards.
Earlier this year, he was granted the honor as a Four States Hero for his service to his country by KOAM TV.
He was a member of the Altamont United Methodist Church, the NRA, AARP, the Senior Citizens Bowling League of Parsons, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by a son, Larry Gray, and his wife, Virginia, of Altamont; one grandson, Jason Gray, and his wife Kimberly, and two great-grandchildren, Mazi Grace Gray and Indiana Thomas Gray, all of Carthage, Missouri.
Also surviving are three step-children, Lloyd Leon Newbanks of Mont Claire, Virginia, Anita Pilkington of Mound Valley, Kansas, and Gloria Wood of Muskogee, Oklahoma; seven step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Georgia Medaris, and one step-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon on Wednesday.
Memorials are suggested to the Altamont United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence Harold Gray, please visit our flower store.
He was born January 20, 1920, to L. E. and Josie (McGuire) Gray on a farm east of Altamont. He attended schools in Labette County, graduating from Labette County Community High School in 1938, and attended Parsons Junior College for two years.
He enlisted in the United States Navy, in September 1941, and served all over the world during the war on naval and merchant marine ships. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in September 1945. During the Korean conflict, he re-enlisted in the United States Army, in August 1950, and served his country, in Korea, with the 930th Ordinance group from Parsons, Kansas, and was discharged in March 1952.
Harold married Teresa Florence Sailsbury in Los Angeles, California, in 1944. After his discharge from his military service, he lived in Parsons, Kansas, Jackson, Mississippi, and Wichita, Kansas. She preceded him in death on November 15, 1963, in Wichita. Following her death, he moved from Wichita to West Memphis, Arkansas, for a short period of time.
On June 28, 1966, he and Mildred Newbanks were married in Pueblo, Colorado, and returned to southeast Kansas to live. She preceded him in death on September 15, 1996.
After returning to southeast Kansas, he worked at Ray Products, in Parsons, for many years, retiring from there in the early 1980's.
He was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with bow and arrow and gun. He participated in many bowling leagues since the 1960's, bowling in several national tournaments. At the age of 88, he especially enjoyed bowling with the senior citizens league earlier this year in Parsons. He was the recipient of many bowling trophies which he proudly displayed in his home. He was instrumental in organizing the Horse Shoe Pitching League in Altamont, and helped build the horse shoe pits in the Altamont city park. He participated in many southeast Kansas horse shoe pitching tournaments and received many awards.
Earlier this year, he was granted the honor as a Four States Hero for his service to his country by KOAM TV.
He was a member of the Altamont United Methodist Church, the NRA, AARP, the Senior Citizens Bowling League of Parsons, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He is survived by a son, Larry Gray, and his wife, Virginia, of Altamont; one grandson, Jason Gray, and his wife Kimberly, and two great-grandchildren, Mazi Grace Gray and Indiana Thomas Gray, all of Carthage, Missouri.
Also surviving are three step-children, Lloyd Leon Newbanks of Mont Claire, Virginia, Anita Pilkington of Mound Valley, Kansas, and Gloria Wood of Muskogee, Oklahoma; seven step-grandchildren and seven step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Georgia Medaris, and one step-grandson.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Altamont. Burial will be in Memorial Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after noon on Wednesday.
Memorials are suggested to the Altamont United Methodist Church. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Lawrence Harold Gray, please visit our flower store.
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