GRAY, Willis John - b. September 2, 1931 - d. July 11, 2017

[patyrn]

Willis John Gray was born September 2, 1931 to Dean and Audine Gray on a farm outside of Maple City, Kansas.  He passed away on July 11, 2017.

Willis started his education in a one-room school house, and at the age of ten, he moved to Howard, Kasns where his folks bought 160 acres.  He graduated from Howard High School in 1949 and farmed with his dad until he went to work in the oil fields in Oklahoma.  He was drafted into the United States Army for two years during the Korean Conflict and left with an honorable discharge in 1953.  In 1954, he went to work at Boeing in Wichita, Kansas as a jig builder and worked there for 18 years.  He then started his own business in mobile home service, retiring in 1996.

Survivors include three daughters, Shiela Crelly (Dan) of Wichita, Kansas, LaVonne Gray (Brad Huddleston) of Derby, Kansas, and Vickie Turley (Terry) of Wichita, Kansas; his brother, Eddie Gray (Caroline) of Osage, Oklahoma; his sisters, Rosemary Floyd (Larry) of Liberal, Kansas, Pat Proctor (Vernon) of Grove, Oklahoma, Betty Webber (Al) of Bella Vista, Arkansas, and Barbara Burrell (Rex) of Wichita, Kansas; 7 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and many nieces and nephews. 

Viewing will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 16, 2017 at Smith Mortuary, 1415 N. Rock Road, Derby, Kansas with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, July 17, 2017 at Smith Mortuary, which was in charge of arrangements.

(taken from the Smith Family Mortuaries website)