Walker Richard Gray Jr.

Sonny’s parents had waited ten years for an addition to their family and had even submitted adoption papers for a baby boy when, much to their surprise and joy, along came Sonny. In November 1943, the family grew again with the arrival of his sister, Karal Kay Gray Howard.

Sonny came from a long line of Texas settlers. His mother’s family, the Hillendahls, came to Texas from Germany following the Civil War. His father’s family, the Grays, traced their Texas roots to some of the state’s earliest settlers, arriving during the period when Mexico encouraged migration into Texas from other parts of the United States. Sonny was a fifth-generation Texan through his Hillendahl family and a sixth-generation Texan through his Gray family. Both families had deep roots in agriculture and ranching, and Sonny remained immensely proud of his Texas heritage throughout his life. His only grandson, whom he was so proud of, was once the youngest member of the Texas Republic that made his grandson a 7th generation Texan. Sonny was also deeply rooted in a family history that reached back through generations. His great-grandmother, Martha Eudora Phillips Gray Pearson Beckendorf, was married to his great-grandfather, Richard Henry Gray. Martha was the daughter of James Wesley Phillips, whose mother was Rebecca King, Sonny’s third-great-grandmother. According to family history, Rebecca was of Choctaw ancestry and was associated with the family line of the respected Choctaw leader Mushulatubbee. Family tradition referred to Rebecca as a “Choctaw Princess,” a term historically used by some families to describe Native American ancestry, although “princess” was not an official Choctaw title. This heritage remained a meaningful part of the Gray family’s history through the generations.

In 1961, Sonny married the love of his life, Betty Lou Gordon, at the former White Oak Baptist Church on Mangum Road in Houston. Their only child, Walker Richard “Cody” Gray III, was born in Houston on February 13th 1965. Sonny would later become the proud grandfather of Walker Richard “Austin” Gray IV who was also born in Houston on June 30th 2007. For many years, Sonny and Betty operated the family business, House of Frames, Inc., on West Gray Street in Houston. The business was founded in 1948 and remained a Houston institution for more than seven decades, providing custom art framing for generations of Houstonians as well as numerous businesses and organizations, including Exxon, institutions within the Texas Medical Center, NASA, and many others. He was so proud of his son, Cody Gray who ran the house of frames for many years, after Betty’s passing and did a wonderful job. His work even ended up in space. He was proud of the work he accomplished. Sonny once proudly remarked that House of Frames products could be found from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in the north to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, in the south—and from Paris to Japan.

Betty had a great passion for genealogy, and Sonny happily became her “chauffeur,” driving her all over Texas to old courthouses where she could search through records and uncover the stories of the generations that has passed. While Sonny drove, Betty stitched, creating beautiful works from fabric and thread. Their shared interest in family heritage naturally grew into a love of Texas history. Sonny and Betty were members of the Harris County Historical Association and the Robertson County Historical Association in Calvert, Texas. They would often drive from Houston to Calvert for a historical association meeting Where they owned a home and would also dedicate their time in Calvert. Their son would hate to go to Calvert because every time he did he would have to mow the grass.

Among Sonny and Betty’s greatest pleasures were their visits to the French Quarter of New Orleans. They made their first trip there in 1961 and returned year after year, often staying at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel. They loved the unique culture, history, food, architecture, people, and unmistakable atmosphere of the French Quarter. New Orleans became much more than a vacation destination for them. It was a special place filled with memories that Sonny treasured throughout the remainder of his life and he deeply missed it, it was never the same after Betty passed.

Sonny was born with a rare genetic blood disorder that required him to walk with crutches for more than 70 years called Gaucher’s disease. Throughout his lifetime, he faced and managed numerous physical challenges associated with the disorder. Yet Sonny refused to allow those challenges to define the life he lived. His enduring strength and his will to fight. That belief carried Sonny through many difficult periods. Despite his physical limitations, he remained active in the family business, traveled extensively throughout Texas and the Deep South with Betty, pursued his interests, enjoyed his family most of all, as well as his many friendships he made throughout his lifetime, and lived life with determination. Sonny enjoyed life no matter how difficult it could sometimes become.

Automobiles were one of Sonny’s and Cody’s greatest lifelong passions. Sonny’s fascination with cars began almost as soon as he could remember. He often recalled his first day of school, when his first-grade teacher, Mrs. Russell, used colored pictures of different makes of automobiles and trucks to teach the children their colors. Young Sonny not only knew the colors—he knew the make of every automobile pictured. Mrs. Russell was amazed by the young boy’s extraordinary knowledge of automobiles. At only 16 years old, Sonny joined the Lincoln & Continental Owners Club in 1956. The organization had been founded just three years earlier in 1953, making Sonny one of its longest consecutive members. Sonny later became a co-founder of the Texas Gulf Coast Regional of the Lincoln & Continental Owners Club. He was so proud of his son because for many years he was the International Chief Judge of the Lincoln Club for many years. They traveled many states together showing their prize winning show cars, they won many different best of shows and many trophies. Sonny passed the torch over to Cody about his automobile knowledge, he was very proud of his son because he took the knowledge in like a sponge. Cars were never simply machines to Sonny. They represented history, craftsmanship, friendships, memories, and a passion that remained with him throughout his life. Even while increasingly encumbered by health problems, Sonny continued to enjoy life, with his only son Cody and his only grandson Austin and all his dear friends he created throughout his 86 years. His memories, his automobiles, his Texas heritage, and the people who meant so much to him. Throughout the difficulties he faced.

Sonny was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Lou Gordon Gray, who passed away on April 10, 1997; his parents, Hazel Pearl Hilton Gray and Walker Richard “Son” Gray Sr.; and his sister, Karal Kay Gray Howard. Sonny is survived by his son, Walker Richard “Cody” Gray III; his grandson, Walker Richard “Austin” Gray IV; his daughter-in-law, Wendy Rose Gray; his brother-in-law, Steve Mayfield; his sister-in-law, Judy Gordon. Sonny’s life was measured not by the physical challenges he faced, but by the life he chose to live despite them. He was a proud Texan, a husband, father and grandfather; a businessman; an automobile enthusiast; a student of history; and a traveler. From Houston to Calvert, from the highways of Texas to the French Quarter of New Orleans, from the automobiles he treasured to the family he adored and his friendships he made along the way, Sonny accumulated something far more valuable than possessions. He accumulated memories. And those memories will remain with the people who knew and loved him long after his final journey home.

As his daughter-in-law, one thing I will remember most about him is that he never forgot a name and had a smile for everyone he met.

Letter from heaven

When tomorrow starts without me, And I'm not here to see, If the sun should rise and find your eyes, Filled with tears for me. I wish so much you wouldn't cry, the way you did today. While thinking of the many things We didn't get to say. I know how much you love me, as much as l love you. And each time you think of me, I know you’ll miss me too. When tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.

Rest in peace, Sonny, Dad, and PawPaw.