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Passed away on July 28. 2012 after a short illness. He was surrounded by family and friends.
Andrew was born December 26, 1953 in Burlington, Iowa. He was lovingly adopted by Dr. Charles and Marylou Gray at the age of 5 months. They relocated in 1958 to Rockford, Illinois where Andy attended school. During those years he enjoyed sports like soccer and baseball. Andy enjoyed art, which he applied to many of his creative projects. His father taught him fishing and hunting skills, which he continued to enjoy throughout his life.
After high school he attended western Illinois University for two years, then moved to Florida and Colorado. There he became a skilled carpenter honing his trade throughout his life. His specialty was interior woodfinishing and crown molding.
In 1984 he moved to California and married Cheri Ulrich in 1989. They had two children, Courtney and Lindsay. Andy was a devoted family man and wonderful father.
In 2005 on a trip back to his hometown, Rockford, Illinois, he reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Mary Palmquist. They married and lived outside of Ione, California, enjoying the quiet solace of nature in the country and the abundant wildlife surrounding them.
Andy's hobbies were cooking, gardening, gold panning, and creating intricate birdhouses and mailboxes.
Andy is survived by his mother, Marylou Gray, wife, Mary Palmquist, daughters Courtney Gray and Lindsay Gray, sisters Betty Gumbrell and Mina Gray.
He is preceded in death by his father, Dr. Charles Gray, and brothers, Charles Dee Gray and Jeffrey Gray.
A celebration memorial service will be held on Friday, August 3, 2012 at 11 am. In the Sutter Creek Church of the Nazarene, 14050 Ridge Rd., Sutter Creek, California.
Published in Lodi News-Sentinel from August 2 to August 9, 2012
