Randy Gray

1947 - 2025

Randolph "Randy" Henry Gray, a man of deep faith, generosity, and patriotism, passed away on Monday, September 1, 2025. He was 78 years old. Born on March 18, 1947, in Madigan General Hospital at Ft. Lewis, Washington, Randy was the second of three children born to Anita (Priem) and Frederick Gray.
The day of his 17th birthday, Randy enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam Conflict. He completed boot camp on June 1, 1964, in San Diego, California, followed by Swift Boat training in Coronado, California in 1965. In 1966 he deployed to the Cat Lo Naval Base in the Vietnam combat zone, serving as a Swift Boat Radioman. In 1967, Randy's Navy outfit, the Coastal Surveillance Force (TF 115), received the Meritorious Unit Commendation. He completed his Naval service at the Naval Communications Station in Londonderry, Ireland. Upon completion of his Naval service, just before Christmas in 1968, Randy met Jennifer Dunbar on a blind date arranged by a family member; their meeting took place in Snohomish, WA in front of the Dunbar family business, Snohomish Lumber Company. Randy began attending Central Washington State College in the Fall of 1969, where Jennifer was also a student, and they married on July 18, 1970. Shortly thereafter, Randy once again felt the call to serve, this time enlisting in the Coast Guard, where he served from 1971-1979. During his time in the Coast Guard, he was based in Astoria, Oahu, Pt. Vicente, and Seattle. While in Seattle, he deployed on the Polar Star to Antarctica. He loved telling stories about his trip to Antarctica, where he set up a golf hole on an iceberg – and penguins would join him as he played golf!
Following his military service, Randy turned his attention to building a business to support his growing family. He and Jennifer assumed majority ownership of a family business, and from 1981 to 2003, Randy owned and operated Olympic Lumber, in Sequim, Washington. He was a savvy and successful businessman. Randy harnessed his success in business to give back to the local community through participation in charitable organizations such as Rotary, and fundraising for the Olympic Christian School. Above all, Randy was a family man of deep faith and wisdom, with a generous heart, who would do anything he could to help those he loved and those who were in need.
Randy is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Jennifer Gray, along with their two children, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren: Heather Gray (daughter) and her son Jael Marquette, of Port Angeles, Washington; Abel Schindler (grandson), of Port Angeles, Washington, and his son Finlee; Marissa Schindler (granddaughter) and her fiancé, Josh Carver, and their children Jameson, Jolene, and Mallory, of Sequim, Washington; and Megan Streur (daughter) and her husband, Caleb Streur, and their daughters Adeline and Fiona, of Issaquah, Washington. He is also survived by his brothers, Roger Gray of Ellensburg, Washington and Jeffrey Gray of Sun City, Arizona, in addition to many nieces, nephews, and friends who held him in high regard.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 20 at 1:00 p.m. at the Independent Bible Church in Port Angeles, Washington.