Murray Kirkpatrick Gray

The inevitable happened at age 81, (5-24-2012) of Grand Prairie, Texas. An identical twin, Murray was born December 13, 1930 in Trenton, N.J. to Leonard Bert Gray and Hazel Buchanan Gray. Preceded in death by his parents, twin brother William Gray, brother Jesse Bert Gray, his wife Nelwyn Atkins of Shreveport, LA and his daughter Debra Helen Estep of Keller, Texas. Murray is survived by his granddaughter Julie Estep Gray of Fort Worth, Texas, his grandson Kevin Dalton Estep of Van Buren, AR, his son Gary Murray Gray and wife Lori, granddaughter Lenee of Niagara Falls, N.Y. his son Leonard Bert Gray of Niagara Falls, N.Y, his sister-in-law Mary Ferras Gray of Mercerville, N.J., niece Irene Gail Sobon and husband George, daughter Ashley, son Ryan and wife of Hamilton, N.J. Nephew Roger Allan Gray and wife Susie, nieces; Dayna, Alyssa, Kyli and Molly Gray of Wall Township, N.J. Mr. Gray was a member of the church of Christ. He was a retired air force veteran, life member disabled American veterans Post 42, Grand Prairie, TX. His first overseas assignment was with the army of occupation, Japan (Okinawa). This assignment was interrupted by the Korean War (1952-1953). During the “Cold War” he had numerous state side assignments with the A.F. Systems Command. During the Vietnam War, shortly after the TET Offensive (1968) he was assigned to the AF 554th red horse squadron, danang Vietnam followed by two additional tours through 1972. Upon his military retirement he became a civil service employee with the department of Navy at the Naval Air Station, Belle Chase, LA. Upon his retirement from the civil service, he served his country for fifty years, and received a career service award signed by the secretary of the Navy, Honorable John R. Dalton. Mr. Gray was a plank owner, naval air station joint reserve base Fort Worth, was very well rewarded for his twenty-five years military service receiving thirty-three decorations, commendations and awards. Mr. Gray was a master mason, royal arch mason, a Shriner, El Karubah temple. Mr. Gray was a member of Thomas B. Hunter Lodge 1356 AF&AM, Grand Prairie, TX. He was a member society of American military engineers (same), a life member A.F. Red Horse association #554. For numerous years Murray was a scoutmaster, and a summer camp counselor, B S-A. After Hamilton High School, he pursued his education while traveling throughout the world attending numerous universities, technical schools and community colleges, resulting in an engineering certification he continued to communicate with numerous retired military families and friends who befriended him while stationed or visiting, Alaska, Australia, Japan, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Greece.