Gerasimos "Gerry" Gray was born on the small island of Kefalonia Greece June 20, 1964 to his father William Gray, an American citizen, and his mother Anna Karampatos a Greek citizen. His early couple years were mostly spent in the island near his beloved maternal grandparents Emilia and Elefterios Karampatos. He honored his grandmother by naming his second child Emilia. Yiayia Emilia never called him Gerry, up to this day she calls him "my Jelly." Due to his father's employment as a communications engineer Gerry traveled to many European countries. His first language was a combination of Greek, English, Italian, and French. At age four he came to Pomona CA, living with his paternal grandparents Buford and Mildred Gray. He was not very happy with the arrival of his sister Margie at first, but in time he became her loving brother, best friend, and protector.
Gerry attended Fullerton Elementary School and during his elementary school years, he and his family returned to Greece where he attended Greek schools for two years. He became proficient in speaking and writing the Greek language. He and his family then returned to America where he attended Fullerton High School. After high school he attended Fullerton College where he was nominated the Man of The Year. His achievements, leadership, and communication skills were obvious from early childhood. Next came Humboldt State pursuing a degree in Zoology looking to a profession in teaching.
In 1988 Gerry began his firefighting career working as a seasonal firefighter with Lassen National Forest between college semesters. After graduating from Humboldt, he attended Shasta College's Fire Academy and was hired at the Red Bluff Fire Department to work his way up to the position of Fire Chief. In September 2008 he accepted a position at Redding Fire Department as a Battalion Chief and again worked his way up to the position of Fire Chief in 2015. He was a member of the California Fire Chiefs Assoc. and the International Assoc. of Fire Chiefs. He was the Director of SCHMRT as well as the HazMat Instructor for the Shasta College Fire Academy. Gerry recently assisted PG&E with a television safety ad. He always cared deeply for the departments and the communities he served.
Gerry and Kristen Crombie were married in 1986 and were blessed with three beautiful kids: Christopher, Emilia, and Chloe. The kids became the greatest love of his life; his pride and joy.
Gerry is survived by his children Chris, Emilia, and Chloe; his grandmother Emilia; his mother Anna Gray and stepfather Danny Zuber; his sister Margie and her son Ricky; his girlfriend Sherryl Arend; his niece and nephew Abigail and Theo Zang; his uncles Makis, Bob, James, and Beryl; aunts Katerina, Mina, Frances, and Marjorie; his cousins Nionios, Dr. Emilia, Yianna, Lefteris, Maria, and a large number of second cousins in Greece and America. Gerry was proceeded in death by his father William Gray and Aunt Maria Maksymenko.
A viewing will be held at Chapel of Flowers, 816 Walnut Street Red Bluff, 5:00pm to 8:00pm on Monday, July 9. A memorial Service will be held at Highpoint Assembly, 625 Luther Road Red Bluff, 1:00pm on Thursday, July 12. A reception immediately following at the Tyler-Jelly Building in Tehama County Fairgrounds.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gerry Gray Memorial Fund at Cornerstone Bank which will be used to help with educational costs of future firefighters.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
v.1.9.5