Darryl M. Gray

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University of Montana

Darryl Gray Obituary

Darryl Monroe Gray (Mah-ka-Cees), 67, of 2913 5B St. N.E., a retired contractor and Air National Guard member in Montana and Colorado, died of cancer Tuesday at Peace Hospice.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of O'Connor Funeral Home. Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. today at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church in Great Falls.
Darryl Monroe Gray was born to Ernest and Josie Gray on Jan. 20, 1943, in Browning, Mont., where he was raised on the Blackfeet Reservation. He graduated from the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
In 1966, he married JoAnn Buser in Denver, Colo.
Darryl lived a life of many achievements and honors. He was the second Native American ever to serve as a park ranger in Glacier National Park. He served in the Montana and Colorado Air National Guard and was active duty in Korea during the USS Pueblo crisis. He worked for IBM in Denver, where he won two awards for increasing the efficiency of their operations. In 1968, he and Ted Baker created the Denver Indian Center, which was one of the first Indian Centers in the United States.
Darryl later moved back to Montana, where he became the executive director of Montana United Scholarship Service. Through Darryl's leadership, he began one of the first Indian teacher training programs in the nation, which graduated more than 120 Native American teachers from different tribes all over the U.S. He later started a construction company, the D.M. Gray Co. In 1989, he was awarded the Minority Business Man of the Year for Region VIII. After Darryl's retirement he did various consulting work.
Darryl loved to hunt big game, birds and fishing. He had a lifelong interest in Indian affairs. He and Bob Gopher sponsored Powwows at the College of Great Falls.
Darryl is survived by his ex-wife, JoAnn Gray of Great Falls; daughters, Marilyn de la Ossa, Christi Gray and Jaclyn Gray, all of Temecula, Calif.; son John (Myndi) Gray; sister, Marilyn Gray of Missoula; brother Gerald Gray of Heart Butte; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Josie and Ernest Gray; and siblings Doreen Gray Huffer, Harold Gray (Long Standing Bear Chief) and Joe McKay.
Condolences may be posted online at www.oconnorfuneralhome.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Great Falls Tribune on Oct. 23, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Darryl Gray

9 Entries

Jaclyn Gray

November 9, 2010

Along with my sisters and brother, I was blessed to spend time with Dad the last weeks of his life. My Dad was a very humbled man in his last days... Out of respect for him and to honor his wishes, we let this be a quiet passing. We did not notify too many people as he did not ask for the sympathy or sadness that would come along with his death. He wanted to be alive in well in everybody's mind, for he asks no pity for himself or his family.
I apologize for those who did not know or have found out after the funeral was all said and done. Dad would have just wanted us all to go about celebrating his life and live out the things he may have taught us along the way.

Thank you all for caring.

Darryl's youngest daughter,

Jaclyn Gray.

November 9, 2010

Along with my sisters and brother, I was blessed to spend time with Dad the last weeks of his life. My Dad was a very humbled man in his last days... Out of respect for him and to honor his wishes, we let this be a quiet passing. We did not notify too many people as he did not ask for the sympathy or sadness that would come along with his death. He wanted to remain alive and happy go lucky in everybody's mind, for he asked no pity for himself or his family.
I apologize for those who did not know or have found out after the funeral was all said and done. Dad would have just wanted us all to go about celebrating his life and live out the things he has taught us along the way.

Thank you all for caring.

Darryl's youngest daughter,

Jaclyn Gray.

Jessie James-Hawley

November 5, 2010

Losing Harold was hard, losing Darryl so soon was unreal to friends who knew both. I worked for Montana United Scholarship Service for many years and was proud of the work that was accomplished under the leadership of Darryl. His ability to accomplish many great things for Indian people was amazing and will be long remembered by his former staff and those who sought our help to secure post-secondary education assistance. My heart goes out to you, his family, and his many friends.

October 31, 2010

To the Gray family,
I was saddened at the loss of Darryl. I was also reminded of his great hospitality and Darryl's prankster sense of hilarity that made life always a little lighter and easy to manage.
To JoAnn,John,Cristi,Jaclyn and Marilyn, God Bless you and your families and Darryl will be greatly missed. Kyle Bryant

October 26, 2010

To all of the Darryl Gray family, our prayers are with you and yours at this difficult time. The comfort of your memories and warm family moments will sustain you through this sad and painful time. Darryl contributed much to those around him and did so with great spirit. Blessings to all. NAOMI ROY-MANEY and family, Derek Roy, Hilary Roy, Courtney Ellis and Kinsey Roy-Chamberlin.

October 23, 2010

To all of you. My heartfelt sympathy. I am proud that Darryl was my friend. He will be missed by many.
Jim Koontz, Great Falls

Kim Haney Prevett

October 23, 2010

Marilyn,,,,Thoughts and prayers your way! Your dad was a remarkable man.
God Bless you and your family.

Mike Gopher

October 23, 2010

To my relatives, sending love and saying prayers for comfort during your loss.
Mike Gopher

Earle Damon

October 23, 2010

To the family of Darryl Gray. My deepest sympathy is extended to all family members on your loss.

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