- Date Of Birth: July 30, 1934
- Date Of Death: August 7, 2020
- State: Idaho
Jerry Kent Gray, 86, of Ammon Idaho, fell asleep in death on Friday, August 7, 2020, at the Teton Post-Acute Rehab Center of Ammon, Idaho.
Jerry was born on July 30, 1934, in Shelley, Idaho, to Joseph Wilkins and Lillian Annette Bradshaw-Wilkins. At an early age, he was adopted by Leslie Gray. He was the second oldest of 6 siblings: Evelyn Wilkins Travis, John Gray, Karen Gray Ellis, Patt Gray Cooper and Colleen Gray Smith. He grew up and attended schools in the Shelley and St. Anthony area.
Jerry entered the U.S. Navy in 1952 where he completed his GED and received additional education and experience as a flight engineer and airplane mechanic.
On January 15, 1954, Jerry married Donna Mae Taylor. This union produced four children who were raised in Bonneville County, Idaho.
Jerry was a family man and loved to help others whenever he could, especially if it pertained to electrical work. Being raised on a farm, he enjoyed horses and later got involved in cutter racing which became a family project. He stayed in shape by jogging and playing golf. When Jerry and Donna first got married, Jerry played the steel guitar. As the children came along, they became a musical family. As a family they would hold jam sessions in their basement, singing and playing the piano, drums, the acoustic and rhythm guitars.
Jerry and Donna began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and after a thorough study of the bible, they were both baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1958. Recalling the many years they spent in the ministry as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jerry was known to say, “If you want to know the author, read the book.” His favorite times in the ministry would be to go up to Spencer, Idaho, with a group of friends; they would take a picnic lunch, sit under a shade tree, and enjoy the company of friends.
For the first 10 years after retirement, Jerry and Donna were snowbirds in Arizona. Unfortunately, in 2010, Jerry suffered a heart attack, and in 2011, a stroke, which then confined them to the Ammon, Idaho, area.
Jerry is survived in death by his wife of 66 years, Donna Gray of Ammon, Idaho; children, Andrew Gray, Laurie Ann (Rick) Chase, Jerry Kent Gray Jr. all of Idaho, and Angela Kaye Gray of Oregon; brother, John (Rhonda) Gray of Utah; sisters, Evelyn Wilkins (Jonnie) Travis of Nevada, Karen Gray (Ray) Ellis, and Patt Gray (Val) Cooper of Idaho; in addition to 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the Teton Post Rehab Center and all those who helped in so many ways for their kind thoughts and prayers.
