John Garland Gray

John Garland Gray age 86, of Wirtz, VA born December 25, 1929, was called home by the Lord on Friday, November 4, 2016. John grew up in the Blue Ridge community of Botetourt County, where he was one of the eight children of Dewey and Effie Gray. As a lifelong baseball player and fan he was instrumental in forming the first Little League baseball team in the Blue Ridge community and served as its coach for many years, and was an assistant scout master with Boy Scout Troop 136 (then in Blue Ridge, now in Bonsack) for the same number of years. He was also a member of and 32 degree Scottish Rite Mason in the Boone Masonic Lodge No. 247 in Troutville, VA. John grew up and was baptized in the Blue Ridge Church of the Brethren, and was later instrumental in the founding of Smith Mountain Lake Community Church of the Brethren which he attended for the last 20 years of his life many of which he served as financial secretary. As a member of the Church of the Brethren John attended many of their annual conferences, and was very active in the Church’s Disaster Relief Program across the eastern United States for many years until his health and age slowed him down in his later years. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Mary Graybill Gray of Wirtz, VA; brother, Charles Gray (Barbara) of Boston, MA; sister, Phyllis Hawley of Moneta, VA; sisters-in-laws, Kathleen Gray of Elliston, VA, and Ingrid Gray of Roanoke, VA; son, Michael Gray (Kathryn) of Fairbanks, AK; daughter, Kathy Jones of Wirtz, VA; foster son, Michael Crockett (Margie) of Max Meadows, VA; grandchildren, Jason Jones of Boalsburg, PA, Drue Gray (Heather) of Ypsilanti, MI, Sarah Pepe (Ben) of Missoula, MT, Annie Thackxton (Jared) of Fairbanks, AK, and Mike, Mark and Matt Crockett of Max Meadows, VA. He is also survived by beloved great grandsons Elliott, Oliver and Linus Gray of Ypsilanti, MI, and a great granddaughter Madison Grace Thackxton of Fairbanks, AK as well as by very dear friends Robert Dudding (Vera) of Troutville, VA and Clay Carson (Jean) of Radford, VA and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any donations be sent to the Smith Mountain Lake Church of the Brethren. Funeral services will be conducted 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at the Smith Mountain Lake Community Church of the Brethren. There will be a pot luck meal at the church following the service. His family will receive friends and family to celebrate John’s life, 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount. John will later be interred at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens in a private service.