Gordon Emerson Gray was born on November 23, 1919 to James Marcus Gray and Cora Myrtle Gray in Webster Groves, Missouri.
Gordon grew up on a farm outside St. Louis where his farm and family life imbued him with the traditional values of middle America; self reliance, hard work and love of God and country.
He attended Westminster College where his major was biology, and although he had earned a partial scholarship to Medical School, he opted instead for a military career in the Marines as a pilot. During this time he was married for 20 years to Vivian and raised two sons, Doug and Steve. Gordon served in WWII in USMC squadron VMD-154 and deployed with the squadron to Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides (now known as Vanuatu) in 1942. He also served in the Korean War. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
His years of military service helped prepare him for his next adventure as an entrepreneur in the McDonald's restaurant business in California. It was here in California that he met his second wife Sue. They were married for 49 years and raised Sue's son Matt. Gordon continued his passion for flying and flew his airplane volunteering for the Flying Samaritans as well as for leisure travel. Gordon and Sue both loved to travel and did so extensively. They spent quite a bit of time enjoying their house in Punta Bufeo, Mexico.
Gordon and Sue were members of Trinity United Presbyterian Church, where they had many cherished friends from King's Class. As a final act of charity, Gordon donated his body to science.
Gordon was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Naomi "Sue" Gray; his brother, Vernon Gray; sister, Gwendolyn Gray and his son, Doug Gray. He is survived by his sons, Steve and his wife Diane, Matt and his wife Adria along with grandchildren, Tyler, Samantha, Cody, Amanda, Marlee, Aubrey and great grandson, Clyde.
Special thanks to the family of Gordon E. Gray for providing this biography.
To read Gordon's account of the December 29, 1942 attack on his B-24 Liberator, please click on the following link: Gordon Grey
Gordon grew up on a farm outside St. Louis where his farm and family life imbued him with the traditional values of middle America; self reliance, hard work and love of God and country.
He attended Westminster College where his major was biology, and although he had earned a partial scholarship to Medical School, he opted instead for a military career in the Marines as a pilot. During this time he was married for 20 years to Vivian and raised two sons, Doug and Steve. Gordon served in WWII in USMC squadron VMD-154 and deployed with the squadron to Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides (now known as Vanuatu) in 1942. He also served in the Korean War. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
His years of military service helped prepare him for his next adventure as an entrepreneur in the McDonald's restaurant business in California. It was here in California that he met his second wife Sue. They were married for 49 years and raised Sue's son Matt. Gordon continued his passion for flying and flew his airplane volunteering for the Flying Samaritans as well as for leisure travel. Gordon and Sue both loved to travel and did so extensively. They spent quite a bit of time enjoying their house in Punta Bufeo, Mexico.
Gordon and Sue were members of Trinity United Presbyterian Church, where they had many cherished friends from King's Class. As a final act of charity, Gordon donated his body to science.
Gordon was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Naomi "Sue" Gray; his brother, Vernon Gray; sister, Gwendolyn Gray and his son, Doug Gray. He is survived by his sons, Steve and his wife Diane, Matt and his wife Adria along with grandchildren, Tyler, Samantha, Cody, Amanda, Marlee, Aubrey and great grandson, Clyde.
Special thanks to the family of Gordon E. Gray for providing this biography.
To read Gordon's account of the December 29, 1942 attack on his B-24 Liberator, please click on the following link: Gordon Grey
Gordon Emerson Gray was born on November 23, 1919 to James Marcus Gray and Cora Myrtle Gray in Webster Groves, Missouri.
Gordon grew up on a farm outside St. Louis where his farm and family life imbued him with the traditional values of middle America; self reliance, hard work and love of God and country.
He attended Westminster College where his major was biology, and although he had earned a partial scholarship to Medical School, he opted instead for a military career in the Marines as a pilot. During this time he was married for 20 years to Vivian and raised two sons, Doug and Steve. Gordon served in WWII in USMC squadron VMD-154 and deployed with the squadron to Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides (now known as Vanuatu) in 1942. He also served in the Korean War. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
His years of military service helped prepare him for his next adventure as an entrepreneur in the McDonald's restaurant business in California. It was here in California that he met his second wife Sue. They were married for 49 years and raised Sue's son Matt. Gordon continued his passion for flying and flew his airplane volunteering for the Flying Samaritans as well as for leisure travel. Gordon and Sue both loved to travel and did so extensively. They spent quite a bit of time enjoying their house in Punta Bufeo, Mexico.
Gordon and Sue were members of Trinity United Presbyterian Church, where they had many cherished friends from King's Class. As a final act of charity, Gordon donated his body to science.
Gordon was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Naomi "Sue" Gray; his brother, Vernon Gray; sister, Gwendolyn Gray and his son, Doug Gray. He is survived by his sons, Steve and his wife Diane, Matt and his wife Adria along with grandchildren, Tyler, Samantha, Cody, Amanda, Marlee, Aubrey and great grandson, Clyde.
Special thanks to the family of Gordon E. Gray for providing this biography.
To read Gordon's account of the December 29, 1942 attack on his B-24 Liberator, please click on the following link: Gordon Grey
Gordon grew up on a farm outside St. Louis where his farm and family life imbued him with the traditional values of middle America; self reliance, hard work and love of God and country.
He attended Westminster College where his major was biology, and although he had earned a partial scholarship to Medical School, he opted instead for a military career in the Marines as a pilot. During this time he was married for 20 years to Vivian and raised two sons, Doug and Steve. Gordon served in WWII in USMC squadron VMD-154 and deployed with the squadron to Espiritu Santo Island, New Hebrides (now known as Vanuatu) in 1942. He also served in the Korean War. He was awarded a Purple Heart and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
His years of military service helped prepare him for his next adventure as an entrepreneur in the McDonald's restaurant business in California. It was here in California that he met his second wife Sue. They were married for 49 years and raised Sue's son Matt. Gordon continued his passion for flying and flew his airplane volunteering for the Flying Samaritans as well as for leisure travel. Gordon and Sue both loved to travel and did so extensively. They spent quite a bit of time enjoying their house in Punta Bufeo, Mexico.
Gordon and Sue were members of Trinity United Presbyterian Church, where they had many cherished friends from King's Class. As a final act of charity, Gordon donated his body to science.
Gordon was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Naomi "Sue" Gray; his brother, Vernon Gray; sister, Gwendolyn Gray and his son, Doug Gray. He is survived by his sons, Steve and his wife Diane, Matt and his wife Adria along with grandchildren, Tyler, Samantha, Cody, Amanda, Marlee, Aubrey and great grandson, Clyde.
Special thanks to the family of Gordon E. Gray for providing this biography.
To read Gordon's account of the December 29, 1942 attack on his B-24 Liberator, please click on the following link: Gordon Grey
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