Donald E. Gray

Donald E. Gray, 71, of Conrad/Brady area and formerly of Whitefish, passed away on Dec. 29, 2018 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Don was born on Feb. 8, 1947 in Whitefish. He was loved and will be greatly missed by his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 52 years, Elaine Gray, currently of Conrad, and his four children, John (Jamie) Gray of Kalispell, Stacey (Drew) Pike of Big Arm, Jim (Nicole) Gray of Columbia Falls, and Jerry (Jessica) Gray of Great Falls. He will be greatly missed by his eight grandchildren, Julia (Clayton) McDaniel, Joel (Avalon) Gray of Cut Bank, Kaylee (Makenzy) Gray of Polson, Meghan (Cory) Gray of Columbia Falls, Brandon Gray of Great Falls, Jacob (Haley) Gray of Kalispell, Kennedy Gray and Abigail Gray both of Great Falls; three great grandchildren, Harper, Kendrick, and Madoc; and step great grandchildren, Noeahna, Mila, and Dacian.

Don was a 1965 graduate of Whitefish High School and enjoyed playing the trumpet in the high school band. He was inspired by the musical talents of his Uncle Willy and Aunt Dorothy Schwartz. Don worked as a mechanic and fuel delivery driver for his in-laws, George and Esther Stacey, at Stacey Oil Company in Whitefish. His smile greeted customers daily for over 40 years.

Don was an avid hunter and enjoyed elk hunting in the Middle Fork with his good friend, Terry Nelson. In his younger years, he loved taking his kids on horseback into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. He was a long-time member of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish and currently a member of Golden West Lutheran Church of Chouteau County.

He is preceded in death by his parents and survived by two sisters.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m. at Golden West Lutheran Church, 23 miles east of Conrad.