Raymond Sylvester Gray

Raymond Sylvester Gray, 86, Carlton, died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2005 in Inter-Faith Care Center. He was born Feb. 20, 1918 in Manitoba, Canada, the son of Arthur and Lena (Weispfennig) Gray. At the age of three, he moved with his family to Minneapolis, then later moved to Swatera, Minn., located south of Aitkin. After being discharged from the military in 1945, he moved to Cloquet. Ray was a World War II veteran, serving in the South Pacific and Aleutian Islands and was a Purple Heart recipient. He married Sira Strand on Oct. 5, 1946. Ray was a member of Hebert Kennedy VFW in Cloquet, Teamsters Union Local 346, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, a life member of DAV and enjoyed playing golf. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sira on April 5, 1997; one brother, Earl Gray; and four sisters, Virginia Ratfield, Mae Gray, Treasa House and Georgina Newton. Ray is survived by three sons, Dr. John (Sharon) Gray of Duluth, Paul Doyle of Cloquet and James (Sherry) Gray of Minneapolis; a daughter, Colleen (Mitchell) Dennie of Duluth; 11 grandchildren and six great grandchildren. VISITATION:2 p.m. Sunday, January 23, 2005 until the 3 p.m. funeral service in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th Street, Cloquet, followed by lunch in the Fireside Room of the funeral home. Interment will be in Ft. Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis. Memorials may be made to Inter-Faith Care Center. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute see www.northlandfuneralhome.com