Dr. B. Gray Appleton

1942 - 2023

Dr. B. Gray Appleton died peacefully at his home on Lake Chatuge under Four Seasons Hospice Care on Friday, June 30, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Henly Appleton; his daughter, Alli Appleton, and granddaughter, Elizabeth Gray Dillard, of Athens, Ga.
Born in Pine Bluff Ark. to Brown Garrison and Alice Gray Appleton on Nov. 22, 1942, Gray grew up in the small town of Warren, Ark. He graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Ark. and the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark. In 1970 he received his MD degree from the University of Arkansas College of Medicine in Little Rock, Ark.
After completing his training at St. John's Hospital in Tulsa, Okla., Gray and Linda moved to Savannah, Ga. There he and Dr. Ben McReynolds provided the first full time Emergency Department care for citizens of Chatham County at Memorial Medical Center. Throughout his career in Savannah, he saw many expansions and innovations in Emergency Medicine as a specialty and the development of professional EMT's and other auxiliary staff. After retiring to Hayesville and his beloved Lake Chatuge, Dr. Appleton occasionally worked as the Emergency Department Physician at Murphy Medical Center. He retired again in 2005 and enjoyed travel and golf as well as volunteering for CCCRA, the local food pantry and Sharp Memorial United Methodist Church.
Later in life Gray faced a difficult and challenging health condition with steadfast courage, a dry wit and sense of humor. He loved dogs, both large and small, especially Jack Russell Terriers in pairs. As reading became impossible, he filled his time with CNN, televised sporting events such as golf tournaments, swimming competitions and the Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He was generous and devoted to his family.
Other family members who will cherish his memory are his sisters, Nadine Appleton Van Orsdel and Pauline Appleton Hudkins (Lee); brother, William Robert "Bob" Appleton (Barbara); brother-in-law, Dan Henly (Sherri); nieces and nephews,William "Bill" Van Orsdel (Ann), Beth Van Orsdel Kirke (John), Garrison Hudkins (Carolyn), Gray Smithey/Hudkins (Joe), Mary Beth Appleton/Rittenhouse (William), Laura Appleton Chau (Hanson), Carolyn Appleton Zinter (Kevin), Stuart Henly, Tommy Henly (Aime) and Clayton Henly.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at Sharp Memorial Methodist Church, Young Harris,Ga. with reception to follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Donald W. Reynolds YMCA, 207 N. Main St., Warren, AR 71671: www.dwrymca.org or the Valley River Humane Society, 7450 US-19, Marble, NC 28905: www.valleyriverhumanesociety.org.
Townson-Rose Funeral Home: www.townson-rose.com is in charge of arrangements.