Roy Dean Gray

Roy Dean Gray, son of the late Roy Ervin and Velma (Hopper) Gray, was born November 4, 1947 in Douglas County, Missouri, and lived 69 years, 6 months and 19 days before transitioning from this life on May 23, 2017 at the Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, Missouri.

Dean attended Cold Springs Free Will Baptist Church for much of his life. One of many examples of his love for the Lord was displayed when he boldly went to the church altar and spoke aloud to God, asking for forgiveness of his sins and for God's hand of protection to be upon his nephews serving in the military. There was not a dry eye in the building.

Dean, affectionately known as 'Deano' by many family and friends, grew up 8 miles south of Norwood in Douglas County and attended both Cold Springs and Skyline Schools. For 65 years, Dean chose to live with or beside his parents. For most of his adult life, Dean lived in his own small house next to his mom and dad's. His humble home was always a favorite spot of nieces and nephews who loved hanging out with Dean on Sundays after church and before the weekly family dinners.

After his mother's death, Dean chose to continue residing at home for over a year with the help of family and other caregivers. Eventually, Dean decided to move in with friends at Arc of the Ozarks in Mountain Grove where he received tremendous care from a caring and gracious staff. While living there, Dean was able to enjoy a variety of regular activities at such places as the Mountain Grove Senior Center. Dean enjoyed calling his new home the Ponderosa.

Speaking of the Ponderosa, Dean enjoyed such western TV shows as "Bonanza" and movies with John Wayne.

Dean loved music and knew his favorite songs and artists by heart. He enjoyed purchasing classic rock and outlaw country albums. Dean was also an avid fan of automobiles and amassed a very sizable collection of Hot Rod magazines. Dean took pleasure in weekly visits with a variety of family members to the R & M Dutch Cooking (Amish) Restaurant of Norwood. Dean also loved telling stories.

Dean was a longtime employee of Unique Services of Mountain Grove and continued working there until his death. After a relatively brief hiatus from employment following his mother's passing, Dean expressed a desire to "take his lunch box and go back to work." Dean was so serious about his job that he was known to take off walking to work if it was too icy to ride from home or if Unique's work bus didn't show up as early as expected at Norwood's Lazy Lee's.

Dean was very expressive and genuine in sharing his thoughts and feelings, whether good or bad or positive or negative. Dean's infectious smile and boisterous laughter routinely brought joy and happiness to his family and friends and could overtake a room. Dean would often tell his loved ones that he loved them and was very protective of his family.

To his mom and dad, Dean was a wonderful son; to his siblings, a beloved brother; to nieces and nephews, a cherished uncle; to even others, a great and wonderful friend. But to all those that knew him, he was an amazing man who will never be forgotten. In some ways, it was fitting that Dean worked at a place called 'Unique', because he was truly, without question, one of a kind.

Besides his parents, Dean was preceded in death by one brother, Brian Gray of Norwood, and one sister, Janice Hill of Norwood.

Dean is survived by two brothers, David Gray and his wife, Barb, of Norwood and Kevin Gray and his wife, Debbie, of Norwood, three sisters, Carolyn Stofer and her husband, Leo, of Mountain Grove, Donna Gilley and her husband, Delbert, of Mountain Grove, and Sherry McIntosh and her husband, Paul, of Norwood, one sister-in-law, Sheila Gray of Mountain Grove, and lots and lots of nieces, nephews and additional family who loved him and will miss him dearly.