Edward Joseph "Ed" Gray

Edward "Ed" Joseph Gray, age 85 of Fayetteville, AR, a proud father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and Army Veteran, took his last breath in the arms of his wife and surrounded by his family, on January 17, 2026. Ed was born in Camden, NJ on July 5, 1940, to Edward and Helen (Emenecker) Gray. He was raised with his sister Cathy in Oaklyn, NJ and graduated from New York Military Academy in 1958.

In 1961, Ed married Wilma Maxwell of Oaklyn. They first met in Oaklyn Junior High and were long distance high school sweethearts, writing daily letters to each other whenever they were in different states or countries, starting in 1956 when, as a junior in high school, Ed received a basketball and work scholarship to attend NYMA in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY. Ed then enlisted in the Army, and after several duty stations Ed was sent to Korea for thirteen months and their letter writing continued almost daily. They shared the events of their days and planned a wedding upon his return. Their first home together was at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia; in subsequent years they lived in Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Maryland but they raised their children, Ellen, Eddie, and David, primarily in Atlanta. Ed spent countless hours supporting his children and later his grandchildren in their creative and athletic pursuits, attending concerts, scouting events, cross-country and track events, basketball games, wrestling matches and soccer games. Ed was an avid reader and collected hundreds of books, and lots of other things, all his life. Ed enjoyed good music and the theater. For ten years Ed and his wife were volunteer ushers in many venues in Atlanta and when they relocated to Fayetteville fourteen years ago, as patrons they enjoyed all that Walton Arts had to offer and appreciated all that his friends there did to make it possible for him to continue enjoying the arts for as long as he was able. Ed was happy to retire to Northwest Arkansas where he immediately began exploring the area – the beauty of the mountains and the trees, state parks, hiking and biking, as well as the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks, Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Ed enjoyed all types of museums all over this country and the world.

Ed's very favorite activity was traveling anywhere, especially long road trips to see his family and friends in this country and long flights to see them around the world. He found much joy in meeting and connecting with people wherever he went. His favorite place to spend time was Jekyll Island on the coast of Georgia where he and his family and friends made some of their happiest memories over the years. He enjoyed all the beauty of our country from the beaches to the mountains and all the national parks. He enjoyed the people and beauty of other countries as well and traveled to many international destinations through The Friendship Force, a cultural exchange program focused on "meeting faces, not places." He and his family stayed in homes abroad and later welcomed those same travelers into their own home, forming many lifelong friendships.

Finding a church home after each of his moves was important to Ed and his family and that is where many of their other lifelong friendships began. Ed enjoyed volunteering at Kingswood Church in Atlanta, especially in the missions area - the prison ministry, local mission trips and helping families after Hurricane Katrina. In Fayetteville, Christ Church became Ed's new church home. When he was able, he enjoyed doing mission work there too, especially "lunch buddies," a program serving elementary students. For the past year or so, Ed was unable to be at church in person much but was there online every Sunday and appreciated the Bible-based sermons. the choir, the community groups and summer book studies where more new friends were made.

Ed valued his experience in the Army and was very thankful for all those who serve our country and was especially proud of his family members who serve. Until Covid, he was a loyal, enthusiastic, weekly volunteer at the VA Hospital in Fayetteville.

As a teenager, Ed worked for the local public works department, assisted as a hospital orderly at Cooper Hospital in Camden, NJ and set pins at the Oaklyn Bowling alley. Following his time in the Army, he worked as a sales representative and manager in several companies selling industrial fasteners and later heavy equipment. His last job before retirement, his favorite, was as the supply and facilities manager for all the branches of the Associated Credit Union in Atlanta.

Ed's memory will be cherished by his wife Wilma Gray, his children Ellen Gadberry (Tim Merritt), Eddie, and David (Dawn), his grandchildren Jack (Jennifer), Will (Lam), Emilie (Nathanael) Franks, Christopher (Kayla), Susannah, Hunter, Jenna, and Matthew Gray, his great-grandchildren James Gray, Eliot, Dietrich, and Heidi Franks and his sister Cathy Gray Morrison. He is also survived by many well-loved nieces and nephews and their families - Glenn (Rhea), Jocelyn (Lacy), Stevie, Quin, Brian, Max, Craig (Jeanne), Grace, Jack, Julie (Greg), Charlie (Julia), James, Luke, Lucy (Bobby), Bill (Jill), Brad (Nicole), John, Samantha, Tracy (Tom), Courtney (Preston), Caroline and Tommy. Ed's greatest joy was his family.

The reason for Ed's slow decline over the past five years was never fully diagnosed in spite of receiving a multitude of tests for several rare conditions and excellent care in Northwest Arkansas and Oklahoma Heart Hospital. During this time, as Ed gradually lost the ability to do many of the things he so enjoyed, he handled his declining health issues with courage, grace, hope and prayer. He always thanked everyone who treated, helped and cared for him and never lost his sense of humor and ready smile. Ed's family thanks all who cared for him, with a special word of gratitude for Washington Regional Hospice, whose kindness helped him transition to eternal life with dignity and peace. His faith was strong and God was with him all the way.

A Celebration of Life Service for Ed will take place on Saturday, March 14 at 11am at Christ Church in Fayetteville, AR. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Ed Gray to Kingswood Church, 4896 N. Peachtree Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338 or to Christ Church, 4201 N. Shiloh Drive, Fayetteville, AR 72703, or to any of the nonprofits mentioned above.