Michael Gabriel Bray

Michael Gabriel Bray was born on March 15, 1990, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the son of Kelly Ray Bray and Donna Fay (Clinard) Bray. Michael attended Muskogee Public Schools, Fort Gibson Public Schools, and Checotah Public Schools. After graduation, he continued his education by attending classes at Bacone College. He went on to build a career around one of his greatest passions—sports—working for many years as a sports journalist with the Muskogee Phoenix.

Sports were a big part of Michael's life, and he especially loved Oklahoma Sooners football. His love of sports extended beyond simply watching the games, as he also enjoyed sportscasting for fun. When he wasn't following sports, Michael often enjoyed video games, or anything connected to Star Wars. Those interests, along with the people he cared about, brought him great enjoyment throughout his life. On September 13, 2026, Michael passed from this life at the age of 36 years old. He will be greatly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Michael is preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Theodore Blue and Annie H. (Young) Benge; grandparents, Cletis Jr. “JC” and Bessie Mae (Benge) Bray; parents, Kelly Ray Bray and Donna Fay (Clinard) Bray; as well as his aunt Leslie Renee Bray, uncles Cletis Dale Bray and Joel Dean Bray, and great-uncle Bill L. Davis.

Those left to cherish his memory are his two sisters, Ashley Wilson and husband Matthew of Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Jennifer Graham and husband Joseph of Wichita, Kansas; his nieces and nephews, Asher Keith Wilson, Cody Graham, Abram Lee Wilson, Jonathan Alexander "Alex" Graham, Ruth Pearl Wilson, and Renee Graham. He is also survived by his grandparents, Billie Walker and Jeanie Hood of Hulbert, OK; Great-aunts, Mary Magdalene (Benge) Williams of Park Hill, Oklahoma and Lee Ann Bray of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; his great-aunt, Nellie Jean (Benge) Davis; cousins, including Gina Williams-Campbell and Wilbern Gene of Park Hill, Oklahoma, Samantha Davis and Teresa Krause of Fort Myers, Florida; as well as his favorite second-grade teacher, Carol Haddock, and his special friend, Mike Kays, and other extended family members and friends.

A memorial service honoring Michael's life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Reed-Culver Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Mike Kays officiating. He will be laid to rest at a later date at Citizens Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.