Bill Gray

Bill Gray, 93, passed away at Willis Knighton Bossier Hospital on Friday August 25, 2023. Services will be held for Bill at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at First United Methodist Church in Bossier City, LA officiated by Reverends Mark Goins and David Dietzel. Interment will follow at Hill Crest Memorial Park. The family will receive visitors Monday August 28, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Hill Crest Funeral Home on Highway 80 East in Haughton, Louisiana.

Bill was the son of James Edward Gray and Lottie Nora Cagle Gray of Marshall, Texas. He was a 1948 graduate of Marshall High School. Bill is preceded in death by his wife of sixty four years, Barbara Waller Gray of Bossier City. Bill and Barbara made their first home in Fort Sill, Oklahoma as Bill was a member of the United States Army Aviation during the Korean War. At the completion of Bill’s assignment in Oklahoma, they returned to Barbara’s home town of Bossier City where they built their life and reared their three daughters: Cynthia Gray, Rebecca “Becky” Gray, and Melissa Gray Shepard.

Bill’s move to Bossier Parish began a lifelong commitment to public service. In 1957 he was asked by Bossier City Police Chief Steve Norris to become one of Bossier City’s first motorcycle policemen. In 1967 he became one of Bossier City’s first plainclothes detectives. From that position he moved to the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Department where he worked as a sheriff’s deputy and later detective. He accepted a position as a private detective with Southern Research in 1974.

Bill’s final career move can be credited to his hobby and love of watching football. His frequent attendance at Bossier High School football games is where he met player Henry Brown. Brown became District Attorney for Bossier and Webster Parishes in 1975, and in 1979 offered Bill the position of Bossier Parish District Attorney’s Investigator. Bill’s chief duty was to coordinate cases between the district attorney’s office and law enforcement officials. Once cases were set for trial, Bill lined up interviews with witnesses and defendants. His job required experience with police work and knowledge of courtroom procedures and his background with both the police and sheriff’s departments helped to ensure his success. Bill remained in his position with the district attorney’s office until his retirement in 1996.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife, his father, his brother Jack Gray, nephew Jon Gray, and grandson Stuart Blackburn. He is survived by three daughters and four grandchildren: Lindsey Gray Todd, Jon Mark Shepard, Judge Alexander Shepard, and Mary Claire Shepard; son-in-law Mark Shepard; nieces: Lee Sanders and husband Jerry, Marsha Herron and husband Tom, Bonnie Daniel and husband Tom; nephew Gary Gray. There are also a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whose names are too lengthy to list that will miss “Uncle Bill” and his storytelling.

Bill will be remembered as a one of a kind, independent, strong willed, true Southern man. He loved his family, friends, job, and community. He loved all sports especially football and especially enjoyed watching his grandsons play the game since he had been a “girl dad.” At Marshall High School he was a varsity letterman in football, track, and golf. He was affectionately nicknamed “Snake Gray” due to his ability to run a football without being tackled by the opposing school’s defense. He and his friends from Marshall High fondly referred to each other as the “Maverick Club” and continued to meet for reunions into their late eighties. Having been a trained aircraft mechanic in the army, he loved to work on any type of engine. Attending and assisting with Harlan Beene’s racing team was one of his favorite hobbies. He could fix any type of engine. He loved cars and motorcycles, and continued to ride his Harley-Davidson motorcycle into his eighties. He could make easy conversation with anyone he ever met. He was fun loving with an exceptional wit and sense of humor. He loved to tell stories of growing up with his brother and single father during the Great Depression, rivaling any great country comedian. There was never a dull moment when one was with “Uncle Bill.”

Honoring Bill as pallbearers will be Judge Henry Brown, Jason Brown, Trey Beene, Thomas Daniel, Tom Herron, and Jerry Sanders.

The family would like to extend their sincerest and deepest thanks to the staff at Loving Tender Care, especially Nerri Cook and Dora White. Their care for Bill during his brief illness enabled him to remain in his home and spend more time with his family.

The family suggests memorials be made to the Bossier Parish School Board Scholarship Program, C/O Bossier Parish School Board, P.O. Box 2000, Benton, LA 71006.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.HillCrestMemorialFH.com for the Gray family.