Bob was born November 14th, 1929 in Dyer, Tennessee to John Paris and Carrie Mae (Thomas) Gray. The farm family survived the Great Depression moving through the Missouri Bootheel before settling in northeast Arkansas where he graduated Luxora High School in 1950.
Bob was a “football hero” and was pursued by a number of schools choosing to attend and play fullback for Arkansas Tech University. As a National Guardsman, Bob’s college career was cut short after a year and a half when he was activated to the “bastard outfit” SCARWARF and sent up Indian Mountain north of the Arctic Circle in Alaska’s Brooks Range to erect radar towers for the better part of two years. After completing his service, Bob moved to Kansas City where he soon found employment at Bendix.
Bob’s life really took off in the autumn of 1957, when in the span of five months he was married, opened his own business, and became a father. Bob Gray’s Leawood Conoco operated and expanded for nearly 39 years at the corner of 103rd and State Line until Bob sold the land back to Conoco and closed up shop Labor Day weekend 1996. A day or two later, he further expanded his operation to ten bays while leaving the gas business behind in opening Bob Gray’s Auto Repair across the street from the then bustling Bannister Federal Complex where he continued for another six years before selling to an employee of 30-plus years and entering into soft retirement.
Bob worked so that he had little time for hobbies though he did enjoy regular weekend trips to his duplex in Kimberling City, Missouri and to getting out to fish from his bass boat at Table Rock Lake.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, seven siblings, a number of nephews and nieces, four sons, and his beloved wife of nearly 60 years, Betty June (Stonner) Gray on January 3rd of last year. He is survived by numerous nephews and nieces, his son Joe, daughter-in-law Misa, and his favorite dancer (other than himself!), his granddaughter Reina.
Eulogy and remembrances will be at 10:00 am Saturday, July 14th at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer and Freeman Funeral Home at 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri 64131 with interment (no graveside service) to follow at Forest Hill Cemetery at 6901 Troost Avenue (64131). Friends and family are invited to celebrate Bob at the Blue Moose Bar & Grill at 11134 Holmes Road (64131) in Red Bridge Shopping Center from 2:30 to 5:00 pm Saturday June 14th.
