Bruce A. McGray

BRUCE A. McGRAY
1929 - 2008


Bruce A. McGray passed away in Santa Maria, California, on Sunday August 3rd, 2008 at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife Virginia McGray, son Ralph A McGray and his wife Nancy of Santa Maria, daughters Janette Leigh Benner and her husband Harold of Eugene, Oregon and Marjorie A. Maupin and her husband Tom of Santa Maria and grandchildren Angela Garvin, Adam Benner and Asa Benner of Eugene Oregon, Jonathan Labastida, Jennifer Labastida, Chad McGray and Jeremy McGray of Santa Maria. Three great grandchildren also survive with several nieces and nephews. Bruce is preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Zilla McGray and a brother Donald McGray.
Bruce was born on November 2nd, 1929, to Ralph N. McGray and Zilla May (Constable) McGray in Taft, California. He spent his early years growing up with his brother Donald in Taft, the heart of the Oil Industry in California, where he received his education at Taft Elementary School and Taft High School. Bruce developed his strong work ethic and concern for others while working with his father in the construction industry and along side of the hard working men and women in the oil industry in the Taft area. During this period he met and fell in love with Virginia Lee Turner. He was inducted into the Army in February of 1951 and scheduled to ship out to Korea. Bruce realized that he could not take a chance on Virginia slipping away while he was overseas so he proposed to her and they were married on June 23rd 1951 prior to his deployment to Korea.
Bruce served in Korea with the 3rd Infantry Division, 7th Regiment, "H" Company as a Heavy Weapons forward observer for a year and three months where he rose to the rank of Sergeant First Class and was offered a battle field commission. The commission would mean an extended stay in Korea away from Virginia so Bruce declined the commission and returned to Fort Jackson in South Carolina where he was discharged November 28th 1952. At that time Bruce and Virginia moved to Santa Maria where he joined his father and brother as a partner in R. McGray Construction. Bruce as part of R. McGray Construction had a hand in shaping many of the features we see up and down the central coast from the construction of the campus at Cal Poly to development of Camp Cook now known as Vandenberg Air Force Base. Bruce was involved in a accident in which he was badly burned while working at Vandenberg AFB in March of 1963. His recovery was protracted struggle over more than two years in and out of hospitals to over come extensive burns. With his undaunted spirit and strong family support he returned to be an active key member of his community.
Prior to his accident Bruce had joined the Masons in 1961 and started his progress through the degrees. He was elected to the position Secretary/Treasurer of the Masonic Dinner Club, the first step in his dictated involvement in the Masons. He was forced to give up his position as Secretary/Treasurer of the Masonic Dinner Club with his accident in March of 1963 but he had found an organization on which to focus his energies. During and subsequent to his recovery Bruce's accomplishments included Masonic Head Candidate Coach, Master of the Santa Maria Lodge in 1986, Worthy Patron of Mizpah Chapter #100 Order of Eastern Star, Secretary of the Santa Maria Shrine Club for 11 years, Director of the Shrine Clubs for Region #2 for 11 years and Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection Scottish Rite Bodies of Santa Barbara to name a few. Some of Bruce's proudest accomplishments were receiving the Patriot of the year award from the Santa Barbara Scottish Rite Bodies in 1996, the Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH/Red Hat) from the Scottish Rite on Oct 18th 1993 in Long Beach, the Hiram Award from Hesperian Lodge #264 on June 17th 2001 and election as an Inspector General Honorary of the 33rd degree Scottish Rite (White Hat) Mason conferred in San Diego on December 3rd 2005. In addition Bruce was a 49 year member of the Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538 and managed to serve his community on the Planning Commission of Santa Maria and as Chairman of the Subdivision Committee.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 8th, 2008 in the Chapel of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary with Dr. Charles N. Gibbs and John Stone of the Hesperian Masonic Lodge # 264 F. & A.M. officiating. Burial will follow in the Santa Maria Cemetery with Santa Maria Elks Lodge #1538 officiating and full military honors.
Visitations will be Thursday from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the mortuary.
Friends if they so desire can make memorials in Bruce's name to the Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, 3l60
Geneva Street, Los Angeles, CA 90020.
Arrangements are under the direction of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary and Crematory.

Dudley-Hoffman
Mortuary & Crematory
(805) 922-8463