Robert Edward Gray, longtime resident of Mesa, AZ, passed away, November 11, 2018. He was born December 1, 1925 in Claremont, New Hampshire; Robert grew up in Plainfield, New Hampshire, a quaint town on the Connecticut River during the time when many great artists including Maxfield Parrish and Augustus St. Gaudens lived and worked in the early to mid-20th century.
Bob graduated from Windsor, VT High School but had to wait for his diploma until after his return to the area as he proudly enlisted in the US Army during WWII as soon as he turned 18, December 1943. Bob served several years in our armed forces primarily in France and Germany right before the German Army surrendered. After his time in the service, Bob returned to New Hampshire and resided in and around the Upper Valley of New Hampshire where he worked at Goodyear Rubber Company for many years. Bob played drums in a local band and started a carpentry business where he built many houses in the West Lebanon, NH area over several years.
After four of his five children were born in New Hampshire, Bob and his first wife Carol, moved to Arizona in 1959 to enjoy the new opportunities of the growing western states. Bob joined the US Postal Service in Mesa and retired after 30 years of service. Bob and his predeceased second wife Evelyn lived in and around Mesa for many years before building a new home in Payson in which they resided for over a decade. Returning to Mesa in the early 90s, Bob and Evelyn spent several years working on their southwest craft business and sold their products in and around Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Bob has always been an animal lover and enjoyed the company of several dogs over the last few decades, including his best friend Little Boy Red, who recently passed on after 16 years of service. Bob enjoyed reading and history. Bob loved country music and dancing. An avid traveler, Bob has traveled all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. If you needed a laugh, Bob was your man - he loved to tell old jokes and gladly shared his great sense of humor with you.
Bob is survived by his children, Mark Gray, Sandra Gray, Kevin Gray, Lynne Gray Winans and Kimberly Gray Edoff; step children, Connie Lanford and Cecil Penney; eight grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and extended family.
A celebration of Bob's life will be held, 4:00pm, Thursday, November 15th at Mariposa Gardens Cemetery Chapel, 6747 E. Broadway Rd in Mesa.
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