Stephen Joseph Gray
Oct. 15, 1947 — Jan. 18, 2011
MONTROSE — Stephen Joseph Gray, of Montrose, Colo., passed away Jan. 18, 2011, of natural causes in his home at the age of 63. Steve was born on Oct. 15, 1947 as the only child to Nick and Margaret (McAferty) Gray. He was born in Montrose and lived most of his life there. While attending high school, Steve maintained excellent grades and was the first chair for three years in the cornet section of the band. After graduating from Montrose High School in 1965, Steve attended Southern Colorado State University on a band scholarship where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Electronics. During Steve’s college years, he spent the summers working with his father on his ranches and for his construction company. The jobs performed included building roads and clearing land for ski runs at Purgatory and Stoner and clearing right of ways for power lines at Morrow Point Dam, Del Norte, Naturita, and from Salida to Colorado Springs. In 1968, Steve married his high school sweetheart, Nancy Cook. The marriage lasted nine years, and two daughters were born from the union. Steve served three years in the US Army as a Spec. 5 Hawk Missile and Launcher repairman stationed at Homestead AFB in Florida. After his honorable discharge in 1973, he continued working for the government, repairing and maintaining radar equipment. When Steve moved back home in 1978, his occupations ranged from communications specialist in Grand Junction, to fossil excavator in Kemmerer, Wyo., to computer technician here in Montrose.
Steve’s interests were many and changed through the years, and each one was pursued with a passion for mastery. He enjoyed scuba diving, kayaking, water skiing, photography, surveying land, paleontology, hang gliding, various linguistic studies, remote control aircraft and database management. Steve had a passion for computers and worked on them daily from the time personal computers were first available. Steve was a weapons enthusiast and a Patron Member of the NRA. He attained his private, commercial and instructor’s pilot licenses. Steve was an avid reader and life-long learner.
Steve is survived by his father, Nick Gray; his daughter, Lezlee Cox, and her husband Chuck, their daughters, Caralea and Kendyl, all of Montrose; his daughter, Nicole Lumsden, her husband Nathan, and their children, Keith, Stephen, Sarah and Talitha, of West Richland, Wash. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Gray.
In honor of Steve’s request, there will be no formal memorial services. His cremains are inurned at Grand View Cemetery, west of Montrose. Steve will be fondly remembered and greatly missed. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.
