Eugene Francis Gray

December 22, 1923 – December 5, 2017

Eugene F. (Gene) Gray, 93, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2017. He was preceded in death by his beloved children Kevin, Nancy and Daniel, his brother Dale and parents Dale and Lena (Kotzman) Gray. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, he attended Central High School.

Gene was a veteran of World War II. He served three years of active duty as a staff sergeant, a non-commissioned officer with the 13th Air Force, and during which time he was awarded three battle stars. He was very proud to have been given the opportunity to participate on an Honor Flight to Washington DC.

After graduating from the University of Missouri in Columbia, he started his own advertising sales company, the Eugene F. Gray Company, which represented radio and television stations across the country.

Throughout his life, Gene Gray was committed to service to the Catholic Church and the Kansas City community. He was a founding member of St. Thomas More Parish and a member of the Knights of Columbus. For many years he was the Honorary Spanish Consul for Missouri and Kansas and he was received into the "Order of Isabel the Catholic" for his service. He was a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Gene is survived by his loving wife of 66 years Nadine; his daughter Diane and son-in-law Mario; daughter-in-law Katy and four granddaughters Lindsay, Caroline, Peepers and Gigi and great-granddaughter Olivia; as well as his sister Helen Jane Wald and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express gratitude to niece Cathy Oesterling who so generously helped Gene over the past few years.

A celebration of Gene Gray’s life will be held on December 26, 2017 at St. Thomas More Church with visitation and rosary at 10:00 followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to St. Thomas More Parish, 11822 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO, 64131 and the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO 64145.