Dennis Lee Gray

Dennis Lee Gray was a most courageous, fun-loving, and generous person. He lived every day of his life to the fullest, and he will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. Dennis was born in Mountain View, California, and he spent his childhood years in Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach, Florida. He graduated from Garrett High School in Charleston, South Carolina, where he played on the school's soccer team and was a member of the chess club.

After graduating from high school, Dennis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, and he successfully completed his basic training at Paris Island, South Carolina. While serving with the Marines, Dennis was stationed for a year in Okinawa, Japan. He also attended jump school at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and he earned his Jump Wings.

After leaving the Marines with an honorable discharge, Dennis began his college studies, and completed an Officer Candidate Training School in Quantico, Virginia. However, Dennis's greatest ambition was to become a Navy SEAL. Fortunately, Dennis was selected for Navy SEAL training. He successfully completed the Navy SEAL BUDS training in Coronado, California, and he had the privilege of serving for a time with SEAL Team 8, in Little Creek, Virginia.

Upon being honorably discharged from the Navy, Dennis studied Criminology at the University of South Florida where he obtained his Bachelor's Degree. While attending college at USF, Dennis enlisted in the US Army Reserves, and he completed the Special Forces Selection and Candidacy School. After achieving his college degree, Dennis became a government security contractor, and he successfully completed numerous tours of duty in Afghanistan.

In his free time, Dennis was an avid skydiver, world traveler, chess player and motorcycle enthusiast.

More important than his impressive career achievements, was Dennis's character as a man. Dennis was a loyal, loving and outstanding son, father, brother, fiancee, uncle, cousin, and friend. Dennis had an outgoing personality and a sense of humor that made him a "one of a kind" person who will never be forgotten by those who had the privilege of knowing him. Dennis had a strong faith in God, and he prayed with his fiancee on a daily basis, even when he was serving outside the country.

Dennis is survived by his sons Matthew Griffith and Hunter Gray, his fiancee Tanya and daughter Autumn, his parents, Bill and Elsie Gray, his brother and sister-in-law, Patrick and Michelle Gray, his nephew and niece, Carson and Lauren Gray, and many other family members and friends.

Services for Dennis are to be held at a National Military Cemetery at a future date.