Reverend William L. Gray

Reverend William L. Gray ScotiaThe Reverend William L. Gray, 88, entered into eternal life on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at Cranesville Place in Dalton, MA. Born in Rensselaer on August 16, 1925, Father Gray was the son of the late William J. and Ruth Armstrong Gray. A native of Rensselaer, he was a 1942 graduate of Van Rensselaer High School and served with the Navy Seabees during WWII in Hawaii and the South Pacific. In 1950, he graduated from Siena College and studied at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church. He graduated in 1954 with a master of divinity degree from Nashota House Seminary and was ordained to the diaconate in the Cathedral of All Saints in June 1954 and as a priest that December in his home parish, the Church of the Epiphany in Rensselaer. His first assignment was as a curate of St. John's in Massena and as priest in charge of St. Paul's Church in Fort Covington. In 1957, he became rector of St. Paul's Church in Waddington and vicar of Trinity Chapel in Morley and two years later became vicar of Christ Church in Morristown. During his assignments in the northern part of the state, he was a member of the Board of Missions of the Diocese and dean of the deanery of the St. Lawrence. In 1962, he became rector of St. Andrew's Church in Scotia, a position he held for 25 years until his retirement in August of 1987. While serving in this capacity he was also active in FISH, the Scotia-Glenville Ecumenical Day Camp; the Scotia-Glenville Recreation & Related Concerns for Senior Citizens; served on numerous school and community committees; and the Scotia-Glenville Ecumenical Council. He also served as a Chaplain for the Boy Scouts of America. In civic affairs, he was appointed chairman in 1967 of a village committee to investigate the need for senior citizen housing and eventually became president of the several corporations which built Holyrood House, a 96-unit senior housing residence. A strong advocate for the elderly, this was a crowning achievement that spanned numerous years and obstacles to accomplish. In the diocese, he was a member of the staff of the summer youth conferences at Silver Bay and Beaver Cross, served several terms as dean of the Mohawk Deanery; served on the Diocesan Council and was a member of the Trustees of the Diocese of Albany; chairman of the Diocesan Commission on Aging and Co-Coordinator of the Committee on Aging in Provence II of the Episcopal Church. Upon his retirement in 1987, he served as a supply priest to numerous parishes in the Capital Region as well as a part-time chaplain at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. Father Gray also had a passion for musical theater. He was active with many of the area theater groups including: the Schenectady Light Opera, The Schenectady Civic Players, the Electric City Chorus, The Park Playhouse, the New York State Theater Institute at Russell Sage College, The Gray Aires, the Mental Health Players and many more. He loved to sing, especially old vaudeville tunes. Father Gray was always ready to share a joke, a song or a story. With a hearty laugh he could be heard to say Did you ever hear the one about... Reverend Gray's wife, Maribel N. (Hagen) Gray passed away in 1994 and his son, James W. Gray in 1991. He was predeceased by two of his siblings, Marcia E. (Gray) Barbagallo and Jon B. Gray. He is survived by daughter, Ruth H. M. (Gray) LaCoss and beloved grandsons, Patrick J. LaCoss and Christopher W. LaCoss and two siblings, Caryl E. (Gray) Fuda and Judy A. (Gray) Farinacci. He is also survived by 14 nieces and nephews as well as 21 great-nieces and nephews and several cousins. The viewing will be held at St. Andrew's Church, 50 Sacandaga Road, Scotia on Tuesday, December 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held at St. Andrew's Church on Wednesday, December 11 at 11 a.m. Interment in St. Andrew's Columbarium at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew's Church. To express online condolences please visit www.sbfuneralhomes.com.