Wayne Gray

He was a proud graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, where he played basketball. He attended Lee College in Baytown, and graduated from the University of Houston.

Wayne was a life-long entrepreneur, and his early job as a soda jerk in a drug store set him on a course to owning ten drug stores. Over his lifetime, he also owned three Hallmark stores, a book store, four jewelry stores, a nursery, and even a black-light poster shop in 1969.

He worked from the age of ten to eighty-seven, including 23 years as a chemist for Exxon.

Wayne was a Lee College Regent from 1986 through 2016, serving four times as Chairman. Over half the buildings on the campus were built during Wayne’s tenure on the Board of Regents. Wayne was also honored and pleased to serve on the Community Resource Credit Union board.

Wayne is survived by two children, Steffani Chapman and David Gray, four grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Wayne was most proud of his 50 years of service to the citizens of Baytown as Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Board. Beginning in 1966, he oversaw the parks system growth from 1 park to a system of 44 parks. He was twice Grand Marshall of the Baytown Fourth of July Parade.

In honor of his Parks Board service and in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Wayne’s name be made to the Baytown Parks and Recreation Department for the extension and beautification of the Goose Creek Trail.

The family will receive visitors on Friday, August 18, 2017 at Earthman Funeral Home in Baytown, from 5:00PM – 8:00PM. Wayne will be laid to rest with generations of his family in Pine Grove Cemetery, in Camden, TX.