William O. "Bill" Gray, 86, of Parsons, died at 5:40 p.m., Wednesday, November 3, 2010, at his home. He had been in failing health.
He was born April 26, 1924, in Parsons, Kansas, to William Harrison and Lucille Eula (White) Gray. He grew up and attended schools in Parsons. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps from 1941 through 1947.
Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Parsons where he was employed by the Parsons Police Department from 1947 until 1955. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, where he was employed by MCL as a bus driver and train engineer before working as an armored car driver. In 1963, the family returned to Parsons where he owned and operated Gray's Standard Service Station until retiring in 1981.
He was a member of Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, woodworking, golf, traveling, and collecting stamps and baseball cards.
He and Jean Ford were married. She preceded him in death in 1973. On June 21, 1975, he and Shirley Van Leeuwen were married in Miami, Oklahoma. She survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by:
One son – Gary Gray and wife, Charlene Parsons, KS
Two daughters – Linda Circle and husband, Tom McCune, KS
Karen Clemens and husband, Butch Bryant, AR
One stepson – Russell Nibarger Parsons, KS
One stepdaughter – Cindy Stone Parsons, KS
Eight grandchildren
Six step-grandchildren
Six great-grandchildren
Twelve step-great-grandchildren
One great-great-grandson
One brother – Lawrence Gray Adelanto, CA
He was preceded in death by one brother, a half-sister, and one great-grandson.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 6, 2010, at Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons. The casket will remain closed. Friends may call at their convenience at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons to sign the register.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William O. "Bill" Gray, please visit our flower store.
He was born April 26, 1924, in Parsons, Kansas, to William Harrison and Lucille Eula (White) Gray. He grew up and attended schools in Parsons. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy Air Corps from 1941 through 1947.
Upon his honorable discharge, he returned to Parsons where he was employed by the Parsons Police Department from 1947 until 1955. He then moved to Los Angeles, California, where he was employed by MCL as a bus driver and train engineer before working as an armored car driver. In 1963, the family returned to Parsons where he owned and operated Gray's Standard Service Station until retiring in 1981.
He was a member of Parsons Lodge No. 117, A.F. & A.M. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, woodworking, golf, traveling, and collecting stamps and baseball cards.
He and Jean Ford were married. She preceded him in death in 1973. On June 21, 1975, he and Shirley Van Leeuwen were married in Miami, Oklahoma. She survives of the home.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by:
One son – Gary Gray and wife, Charlene Parsons, KS
Two daughters – Linda Circle and husband, Tom McCune, KS
Karen Clemens and husband, Butch Bryant, AR
One stepson – Russell Nibarger Parsons, KS
One stepdaughter – Cindy Stone Parsons, KS
Eight grandchildren
Six step-grandchildren
Six great-grandchildren
Twelve step-great-grandchildren
One great-great-grandson
One brother – Lawrence Gray Adelanto, CA
He was preceded in death by one brother, a half-sister, and one great-grandson.
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 6, 2010, at Oakwood Cemetery in Parsons. The casket will remain closed. Friends may call at their convenience at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons to sign the register.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice Care of Kansas. These may be left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, KS 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William O. "Bill" Gray, please visit our flower store.
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