James Eldridge Gray

James Eldridge “Jim” Gray, 57, passed away Friday, June 23, 2017 in Fort Morgan, Alabama as he tried to rescue distressed children in a stormy surf.

Jim was born January 2, 1960 in Longview, Texas as the second child of Patsy and Jack Gray. He grew up in Longview and graduated from Longview High School in 1978, where he was a member of the Lobo golf team. His lifelong passion for golf began at Pinecrest Country Club, where he remembered some of the best times of his youth. He attended Kilgore Junior College and was a Rangerette Manager. In 1982, he graduated from University of North Texas (then North Texas State University) in Denton with a BBA. He began his career as a pharmaceutical rep with Sandoz Nutrition in Nashville. In 1984, he returned to Texas, where he met fellow Longview native, Charlinda Davis. They married February 9, 1985 and were soon the loving parents of Jacob, Tyler and Parker, whom they raised together in the community of Combine/Crandall. The Gray home was, for 31 years, non-stop activity focused on the boys’ sports, music and school activities and Jim was always an integral part and right in the middle of the action. As an ever-present father, he coached them in little league baseball and basketball, and never missed an important event in their life. It was Jim’s unequaled joy to see all three sons graduate from college and succeed masterfully in their individual lives.

He previously served as a Middle School Sunday School teacher and Chairman of the Deacons at Central Baptist Church in Crandall. He also served on the Crandall ISD School Board for two terms while his sons attended Crandall schools. At his passing, Jim was Director of Real Estate with Hospital Corporation of America, based in Nashville.

Jim would often be found fishing in Longview with his lifelong buddy Randy Wood. He loved to grill for his sons’ friends on the patio of their home in Combine and enjoyed playing golf every Sunday with his posse (Joe Fanning, Phil Dickerson, Todd Burgwin & Steve Crittenden). Jim will be remembered for his compassion, his willingness to serve, and a devotion to his family and friends that spanned his entire lifetime. If help was ever needed, Jim was never more than a phone call away. His last act of service was heroic and compassionate.

Jim is survived by his three amazing sons, Jacob Ryan Gray of Lubbock, Tyler Jameson Gray (Tayler) and Parker Davis Gray, along with their mother Charlinda Davis Gray, all of Dallas. He is also survived by his beloved mother Patsy Jane Henderson of Longview, sisters Gloria Gray Gaddis (Stephen) of Canton, GA and Katie Gray Herrington (Joel) of Hallsville, TX. Jim will also be lovingly remembered by nieces Lindsey Gerdes (Jason) of Canton, GA; Anna Lester (Russ) of Lake Jackson, TX; Ellen Reid and nephew Logan Gaddis of Midlothian, TX; great niece, Natalie Gerdes; great nephews, Jackson Gerdes, Wynn Lester, Walker Lester; as well as his sons’ grandparents, Charles and Linda Davis, of Longview.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Jack R. Gray, and his grandparents Mildred & Brents McPherson and Kathleen Gray; and by his sons’ uncle, Derek Todd Davis

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Central Baptist Church in Crandall, TX on June 28th at 2:00 PM. A memorial scholarship fund in Jim’s honor will be established in the near future with Crandall ISD.