Don Eric Gray

Don Eric was born on June 2, 1956, in Jacksonville, Florida to Adolphus C. Gray, Jr. and Reion Blanche Tarver. His formative years were happily spent in Jacksonville and St Augustine. He attended Englewood Elementary School, where he developed a reputation as an athlete and a serious student. While attending Southside Junior High, he played football, and ran track with distinction. At Englewood High School, Don ran track and cross-country, where he lettered in those sports. His nickname in high school was, “the human encyclopedia,” for his uncanny ability to remember information and details effortlessly. Driven with determination, he attended summer-school so he could graduate early from high school to work, save money, and serve a mission. Don Eric’s hard work and dream came true when he honorably served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Brazil.

During his mission, Don served the people in his area and even helped lay bricks for the Sao Paulo Temple. Despite being deaf in his left ear from a childhood illness, Don Eric mastered the Portuguese language and became fluent with great ease. He carried these valuable skills and used them to help others for the rest of his life.

Following his mission, Don Eric returned home where he met and married the love of his life, Sara Jane Boyles. Together for forty-four years, Sara was his trusted and loving partner. Jointly, they had and raised ten children during their marriage. His family was absolutely everything to him. He loved his wife and his children more than anything on earth and made many sacrifices, prayed fervently, and worked long hours to ensure their needs were met.

Don Eric was greatly blessed throughout his earthly life with a deep and enduring curiosity for the world around him. Once interested in a subject, Don would spend countless hours researching and learning about it, so he could then enthusiastically share his knowledge with those around him. He was also extremely giving with his talents and his time, often traveling to the homes of family and friends to fix what was broken, bless those in need, and share his witty sense of humor to uplift those around him.

Don possessed a deep respect and love for life and for all of Heavenly Father’s creations, palpable in his passion for plants and flowers, his adoration for animals, and his enduring regard for his fellow man.

From a young age, Don Eric recognized the importance of having a devoted, personal relationship with his Heavenly Father and with his Savior, Jesus Christ. As patriarch of the family, he took this role seriously and lived by example, as a mentor to his wife and children by constantly studying the scriptures, praying daily, attending church regularly, and visiting the temple often. His great knowledge of the gospel and his deep personal testimony of both the gospel and of our Savior burned brightly throughout his life, giving so much light and goodness to his words and actions.

Don Eric loved music and singing. He often performed with the choir at church and would frequently burst into song with his family. When not singing, Don would pleasantly hum tunes as he went about his daily business, which was delight and joy to those around him.

He was passionate about our great nation and loved our country immensely. This led him to becoming very enthusiastic about politics and if one asked him a question, he could not only explain the issue in astonishing detail, but he would also expertly describe the historical reasons the situation came about, and why certain things happened the way they did. A voracious reader, Don could often be found reading a book while simultaneously listening to his beloved talk radio. He was an avid talk radio listener for more than forty years.

Don worked at Cypress Gardens for twenty-three years, until its closure, and had worked at Walt Disney World for the past fifteen years. He loved his job and the people he worked with. He often said he felt fortunate to have met and worked with so many wonderful people throughout his life.

Some of our fondest memories of Don Eric include his penchant for always wearing a ballcap, wearing hiking boots and hiking socks even with shorts, his fondness for Hawaiian shirts, his portable radio which was forever tuned to talk radio, the way he carried his pens, electrical meter, and notepad in his front pocket at all times, and the way he could, without fail, somehow work Christ into any conversation at any time, in any place.

He faithfully held and honored the sacred covenants he made with his Heavenly Father and his life is a beautiful example of how to hold fast to the iron rod despite the storms around you. He is now continuing his work, with his eldest son, Eric, in the next life, as he prepares to one day be reunited with all of us.

Don Eric, your incredible light, faith, and influence in our lives will be terribly missed by each of us. Thank you for always standing as a witness of God. We love you.

Don Eric is survived by his wife Sara Jane Gray (‘nee Boyles); his children, Emma Rachel Gray (Ramon), Enoch Robert Gray, Ethan Roger Gray (Erica), Elisha Ruel Gray (Debbie), Eleana Rebecca Gray (Brogdon), Ephraim Raphael Gray (Nory), Ean Ryan Gray, Erin Robin Gray, and Elizabeth Roxanne Gray; his grandchildren, Matthew Dean Baumann, II, Gabrielle Anne Maury, Britney and Catlin Gray, and Camilla Gray; his brothers, Daniel Keith Gray (Marlene), David Leslie Gray, Sr. (Virginia), and his many nieces, nephews, and friends. He was predeceased by his eldest son, Don Eric Gray, II, his sister, Donna Susan Muxo-Gray, and his parents, Aldophus C. Gray, Jr. and Reion Blanche Tarver.

The family will receive friends at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1001 Dunson Road, Davenport, FL 33896, on Saturday, February 4, 2023, from 10am-11am. Following the service at 11am, the dedication of the grave and internment will be at Wildwood Cemetery, 800 S Woodlawn Ave, Bartow, FL 33830. Immediately following the interment, the wake will be at Mary Holland Park, Pavillion 16, 2015 Shumate Dr, Bartow, Florida 33830.