Charles Gray was born July 28, 1937 in Grove, OK and passed away January 28, 2011 at the age of 73. He was the fourth child of Wilbur William and Elta Pearl Gray.

Charles graduated from Grove High School in 1955, received his BSE degree in Education from Pittsburg State University in 1960 and his MSE degree in Education in 1963. Charles spent 18 years in education as a teacher and principal. He taught elementary school, 5th & 6th grades, in Coffeyville, KS. In 1963 he was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to study biology and earth sciences. He became an elementary principal in Haysville, KS and Halstead, KS, and spent 5 years in Tuba City, AZ as the principal on the Navajo Indian reservation there. He oversaw 13 schools in very remote areas and had an interpreter accompany him to each of those schools.

When Charles retired from education in 1978, he moved back to Grove and went into business with his brother, Daryl Gray, running GrayMart Service Station and Tire Shop until they closed it in 1991. He and Daryl continued their partnership, building a strip shopping center, and buying and selling various parcels of real estate until he finally retired in 2005.

Charles was a do-it-yourselfer, enjoyed gardening, and earned his small plane pilot’s license although he didn’t use it. He was a horse racing enthusiast who owned several race horses for a brief time. He truly loved to go to the races and usually did pretty well at the window!

Charles was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Daryl. He is survived by brothers William Arden Gray and wife Collen, Pittsburg, KS; Ted Warren Gray and wife Sue, Grove, OK; James Morris Gray and wife, Kay, Grove, OK; and a sister Dena Marlene Hilliard and husband Bob, Carrollton, GA; as well as his sister-in-law Judy Gray, Grove, OK. He also leaves 14 nieces and nephews and 26 great nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Wednesday February 2, 2011 at Worley Luginbuel Funeral Home Chapel located at 711 South Main in Grove, OK., with a memorial service following at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made in Charles’ name to the Grove Education Foundation for Excellence (GEFFE) at http://www.geffe.org or by mail at PO Box 453335 Grove, OK 74345-3335, or by calling 918-786-7511.

Services are entrusted to Worley Luginbuel Funeral Home of Grove. Family and Friends may view the obituary online and send condolences at www.honoringmemories.com

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