John William Gray ll

John William Gray II

April 7, 1939 – December 19,2025

John William Gray II was born on April 7, 1939 in Colorado Springs. He passed away at UCH Memorial Hospital on December 19, 2025 after a brief, unexpected illness. He was a 4th generation decedent of El Paso County, predeceased by his great-grandfather, George Herbertson Sinton; his grandfather, Herbert George Sinton, his father, John William Gray and his mother, Marietta Sinton Gray.

As a boy, John attended Cheyenne Mountain District 12 schools. In 1954 he went East to continue his secondary education at The Choate School for Boys in Wallingford, CT. At Choate he was an accomplished athlete. He played football, hockey and captained the lacrosse team. He was an involved community member and was President of the Athletic Club. He graduated from Choate in 1958.

Like his classmates, John applied to several prestigious east coast universities. He also received an athletic scholarship to attend Colorado College. There he could continue to play hockey. While Yale would be good resume material, hockey was his passion. At Colorado College, John was a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. He graduated in 1962 with a degree in Economics.

From a young age, John knew he wanted a career as an "oil man". He continued his post-secondary education and received a Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 1964. He could never have imagined the places his chosen career in the oil and gas industry would take him.

From a first job in Penrose, CO, he was soon off to New Orleans, LA to work for Shell Oil. During the next several decades John would travel the world and work in Ahvaz, Iran, Peru, Venezuela, Libya, London and Glasgow, (where it is rumored he owned a local pub for a brief time). John left the excitement of worldwide work and travel and moved to Houston, TX where he finished his professional career with Gray Oil and with Jade Petroleum of Colorado Springs.

Not only did John live life to its fullest during his career he was also involved in many other pursuits. He spoke several languages fluently. He enjoyed meeting people with whom he could converse in their native tongue. John was a licensed small aircraft pilot. He lived for a time in Vail, CO where he loved to ski, hike and fish. He enjoyed good music, especially classical and opera. John and his brother-in-law, Bruce McLaughlin, developed Pikes Peak Vineyards and produced some local wine in the 1980's. Their love of golf eventually saw the evolution of grape vines to The Vineyard Golf Course. (now an industrial area south of Janitell Road).

John never met a stranger and considered everyone "just a friend he hadn't met yet". He is survived by his daughters, Heather Gray and Ann Gray Devoy both of Colorado Springs; his sister, Deborah Harmon, Jacksonville, FL; brother David MacGreggor (Kay) Gray, Tucson, AZ; sister Taffy McLaughlin, Colorado Springs, long-time companion, Sara Berge, and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life is planned for April 7,2026, at 11am in The Pauline Memorial Chapel at the Broadmoor, 2 Park Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906. This day would have been John's 87th birthday. Cremation has occurred and John will be interred in the Sinton-Gray family plot at Evergreen Cemetery. Should you desire, memorials may be given to the charity/organization of your choice. John was deeply loved and will be missed by all who knew him.