Paul Robert Gray

Paul Robert Gray, 68, of Irving, TX, passed away suddenly, surrounded by family and friends on October 10, 2022, at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center, Grapevine, TX. The family wants to thank the hospital for the compassionate care they provided to Paul, his family, and friends in his final hours. Paul was born on March 3, 1954, to Eugene N. Gray, Sr., and Anne Cranick Gray, in Las Cruces, NM. By the late 1950’s, his family had relocated to Irving, TX. Growing up, Paul enjoyed sports, water skiing, and trips to Lake Grapevine with his family. He graduated from MacArthur High School, Irving, TX, class of 1972. Paul developed a love for collaborating with individuals with physical challenges, after a close friend became paralyzed from a car accident in the late 1960’s. After graduation, he built many successful businesses and retired, not for long, in 2006. In 2007, Paul founded RISE, a nonprofit charitable organization that provides inclusive adaptive recreational sports programs for persons with physical challenges. He was the current Board Chairman of the organization. We will remember Paul as kind, caring, and always having a way of making you laugh. ‘Goofball,’ as he was affectionately known to some, enjoyed playing tennis and spending time with family and friends. The family wants to thank RISE, to include the board, volunteers, sponsors, partners and associations, and the City of Grapevine for supporting him through his tenure with RISE. Paul’s greatest joy came from serving others with physical challenges.

Paul’s mother, Anne Cranick Gray, preceded him in death in 2015. He is survived by his father, Eugene N. Gray, Sr. and wife Letha; brother, Eugene N. Gray, Jr. and sister-in-law Paula; sister, Terri Sachs and brother-in-law Jim; sister Michelle Gambaro and brother-in-law Alan; brother Craig Gray; lifelong friends, Joel ‘Peanut’ Hendrix and son Joel Hendrix and daughter Valerie Kapp; four nieces, Emily Gray, Lindsay Melendez, Racheal Stanley, and Shay Welch; five nephews, Kevin Smith, Michael Smith, Nicholas Smith, Paul Stanford and Timothy Gray; numerous grand nieces and nephews; and one of his favorite cat’s, Gutter.

The family suggests contributing, in Paul’s memory, to www.riseadaptivesports.org or to the charity of your choice. A Celebration of Paul’s Life will be held, Saturday, October 29, 2022, 11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M., at Meadowmere Park, 3000 Meadowmere Ln., Grapevine, TX, 75061. Condolences welcomed at www.dignitymemorial.com