Jeffrey Michael Gray

In Loving Memory of Jeffrey Michael Gray
1976 - 2025
With hearts full of sorrow yet overflowing with gratitude for the beautiful life he lived, we announce the passing of Jeffrey Michael Gray, a man whose love, kindness, and laughter touched every soul fortunate enough to know him. Jeff departed this life on May 9, 2025, in Fort Worth, Texas, at the age of 48, leaving behind a legacy of compassion, devotion, and quiet, steadfast strength.
Born on a wintry Tuesday, December 28, 1976, in Toledo, Ohio, Jeff came into the world as a radiant light to his adoring parents, Jeffrey Stephen Gray and Marianne Kummerow-Gray. From the very beginning, he exhibited a curiosity and joy for life that would define every step of his journey. Though his early years began in Ohio, Jeff's childhood would be one of adventure, as he followed his family across Michigan, California, Arizona, and ultimately, Texas-a place he would come to call home.
Jeff attended Western Hills High School in Fort Worth, graduating in 1996. During his school years, he participated in the JROTC program, where his sense of duty and commitment to serving others first began to take shape. His teachers and peers alike knew Jeff as someone with a quick smile, a generous spirit, and a heart that was always ready to help.
In November of 2001, destiny came calling in the form of a babysitting visit. Kristen Michelle Carter was watching Jeff's little sister when the two first met-a moment that would spark a whirlwind romance, full of laughter, partnership, and a once-in-a-lifetime love. They began dating on February 2, 2002, and by August 2 of that same year, they were husband and wife, united in a bond that never wavered. Their love story was not only beautiful-it was rare, intentional, and true. They did everything together. From the mundane to the monumental, Jeff and Kristen were inseparable. The only time they were apart was for a dream that Jeff had held since childhood: a trip to the rugged, breathtaking beauty of Alaska. Though Kristen good-naturedly teased him for leaving her just before they began their foster parenting journey, it was a memory they both cherished and retold with affection and laughter.
In 2018, Jeff and Kristen opened their hearts and their home as foster parents, welcoming six children with unwavering love and care. And on a joyful day in December 2019, their lives were forever changed when they adopted their beloved son, Colton. To Jeff, fatherhood was more than a role-it was a calling. He was the most devoted, playful, nurturing, and selfless dad a child could ever ask for. He cherished every moment with Colton, from long car rides and backyard adventures to quiet nights under the stars.
Jeff had a passion for life that was vibrant and multifaceted. He was a wanderer at heart-an explorer not only of places, but of knowledge, history, and wonder. He loved impromptu road trips with Kristen, often letting their journey be guided by road signs and curiosity rather than a set destination. On one memorable adventure, they decided to follow every sign for a lake until, somewhere along the way, they ran out of gas. It was these serendipitous, joy-filled moments that made life with Jeff an endless adventure.
He had an enduring fascination with the cosmos and spent many nights gazing at the stars, marveling at the vastness of the universe. His dream had always been to become a meteorologist-a dream he kept alive through an ever-growing love of weather and the natural world. Jeff also had a historian's mind and a collector's soul. He was a numismatist with a deep appreciation for coins, each one a story, a place in time, a piece of human history. He devoured books on historical events, enjoyed cartoons like Garfield with a childlike glee, and could speak passionately for hours about topics ranging from ancient civilizations to weather systems and the stars above.
Jeff's generosity of spirit extended far beyond his own circle. Whether it was helping a neighbor, a stranger in need, or a co-worker, Jeff gave freely, without hesitation and without expectation. He believed in kindness-in practicing it, in living it, and in spreading it wherever he went.
A dedicated and knowledgeable produce clerk, Jeff took immense pride in his work. He knew the origins of every apple and avocado, the journey each piece of fruit took before reaching the store. His attention to detail and commitment to doing things right made him a beloved colleague and an invaluable team member.
Above all, Jeff was a man of character. He was humble, loving, loyal, and gentle. He loved deeply and lived intentionally. He gave the best of himself to everyone, and especially to his cherished wife and son. The space he leaves behind cannot be filled, but the love he gave will echo on for generations.
Jeff is survived by the love of his life, his wife and soulmate of nearly 23 years, Kristen Gray, and their beloved son, Colton Gray, the center of his universe. He is also survived by his devoted mother, Marianne D'Aquila, and stepfather David D'Aquila; his beloved siblings: Katie Pool and her husband Joel, Aaron Gray and his wife Sabrina, and Christina D'Aquila. He leaves behind his cherished mother-in-law, Cheryl Carter, and her husband Johnny Carter; his dear sister-in-law Megan Crossley and her husband Zach, and his brother-in-law John Carter and his wife Ashley. Jeff is also survived by four nephews, three nieces, numerous aunts, uncles, and an extended family that loved him deeply.
He was preceded in death by his loving father, Jeffrey Stephen Gray, his paternal grandparents Elwyn and Elaine Gray, and his maternal grandparents Arnold Albert Kummerow and Elizabeth Patricia Kummerow.
A celebration of Jeff's life will be held at Roberts Family Funeral Home Chapel, located at 4200 Denton Highway in Haltom City, Texas, on Friday, May 16, 2025. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 PM. The committal service will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Fort Worth, where Jeff will be laid to rest among the beauty of the land he called home.
To know Jeff was to know warmth, humor, sincerity, and love in its purest form. He gave the world more than he ever asked of it, and though his time here feels far too short, the light he shone will continue to illuminate the hearts of all who loved him.
"And when he shall die, take him and cut him out in little stars,
And he will make the face of heaven so fine
That all the world will be in love with night."
Rest gently, dearest Jeff. You were truly one of a kind.
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