- Date Of Birth: September 23, 1911
- Date Of Death: February 2, 2011
- State: Idaho
Forrest “Valdo” Gray
Valdo Gray, 99, a resident of Gooding, died Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at his home in Gooding.
Valdo was born on September 23, 1911 at Clearmont, Missouri, the son of Charles and Dora Alice Gray. Valdo had three brothers and one sister when the Gray family moved to Kuna, Idaho in 1913.
Valdo’s first job was selling newspapers. He bought them at 2 ½ cents and sold them for 5 cents. 1934-35 were the years Valdo worked on the Union Pacific Railroad. He worked the rails from Glenns Ferry to Evans, Wyoming than Pocatello to Butte, Montana. Valdo married Valma Prewett in 1938. Shortly after their marriage they packed up their belongings and headed for Alturus, California where they opened the first Gray’s OK Rubber Welders store. Valdo and Valma returned to Idaho in 1939 and purchased the OK Rubber Welders franchise in Gooding, Idaho. Several years later they extended their business to Wendell and Jerome. The Gooding OK Tire was the last of the three stores to be sold. Valdo retired in 1981. Valdo and Valma celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1988. The Lord called Valdo’s beloved Valma home in 2001.
Valdo was very involved in community affairs. He was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and was named Citizen of the Year. He was president of the Gooding Development Corp. and served on the City Council. He was recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by The Idaho Statesman.
Valdo was an outdoorsman, in 1934 a piece of land on the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho came up for sale. Valdo and several men joined together to start the Flying B & Root Ranch. Valdo has enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing in this remote area with special people in his life especially Russ Kvanvig his friend and lawyer for 35 years.
Valdo was loved and respected by family and friends and will be deeply missed. The last few years Valdo’s many nieces and nephews would gather for birthdays and holidays to honor the elder Grays in the family. Valdo was preceded in death by his parents, wife and brothers – Frank, Virgil, Loyd, Earl and Dee. Valdo is survived by his sisters, Lela Buckley and Kathleen Gandee of Nampa, brother, John (Betty) Gray of San Francisco, California; numerous nieces and nephews, including Ellen (Leroy) Trader and Dora Ann (Lee) Estep of Gooding, Ethel Peterson of Pocatello and Charles (Nancy) Gray of Wendell.
