Bryan Gray passed away at his home on May 25, 2024, after a lengthy and valiant cancer battle. He’s now knockin’ on heaven’s door. Born on Sept. 10, 1948, in Salt Lake City the treasured only child of Mark Gray and Donna (Southam) Gray, Bryan was a lover of music, books, travel, the arts, baseball (except the “dreaded Yankees”), Las Vegas and a few nice glasses of wine. Dinner reservations were essential in the life of Bryan, and he loved supporting the economy via his appetite. Bryan loved to joke that he wanted to write a book, “All Our Friends are Servers” and this most included those at the Oasis Cafe. A special thank you to Connor and the rest of the Oasis team for their kindness. A Highland High School alum, he received his undergraduate degree at Westminster College and later moved onto the University of Utah for his master’s degree in journalism. His career began as a teacher at Layton High School. For over 40 years he also penned the sometimes controversial, always entertaining Cyclops column for the Davis County Clipper, all while running his Shades of Gray Communications and Gray Print Media businesses. He soon became the go-to maestro of piloting local political campaigns. He loved the hurly-burly of politics and religiously watched the PBS Newshour. In the last two decades of his life — right up until his last days — Bryan worked as a salesman for AlphaGraphics, but he lamented that he never sold “anything illegal.” After being diagnosed with ocular melanoma, an incredibly rare form of cancer, he was given six months to live. He defied the odds and outlived that prediction by 12 years.
Bryan is survived by his beloved wife, Dawn Brandvold, children, Mark Gray (Kacy) and Julie Gray, stepchildren, Neil Brandvold (Chiara) and Erin Brandvold, and former spouse, Vangie Gray. He will also be deeply missed by nephew Mark Harnois, the Harrison Family, and his dear friend Kevin Garn. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Graveside services will be held Friday May 31, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S. Highland Dr. in Salt Lake City.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or the Utah Food Bank.
Pragmatic til the end, Bryan implored friends and family not to mourn his death — in the words of Bob Dylan, “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right.”
