Joe Ellis Gray

TUSCALOOSA | Joe Ellis Gray, age 85, of Tuscaloosa, died August 23, 2015. Service will be 4 p.m. Wednesday, August 26, 2015, at Sunset Funeral Home with Dr. Gil McKee officiating. Burial will follow in Bone Camp Cemetery with Sunset Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to service at the funeral home.

He was preceded in death by his father, Silas Izar Gray and mother, Cora Gertrude Hallman Gray.

Survivors include his wife, Peggy Dotson Gray of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; sons, Jerry Gray, Sr. and Joe E. Gray, Jr.; sister, Lougene Watson (Curt); brother, Jerry Smelley (June); two grandchildren, Jerry L. Gray, Jr. and Ashley Tomlin (Jeremy); great-granddaughter, Kadynce Tomlin; and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.

Joe was inducted in 1948 in to the United States Army. He served in the Korean War and was awarded a Purple Heart. He served in General McArthurs Honor Guard.

Joe was a member of the Agape Sunday School class at First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Ala. and a member of VFW Post 6022.

Pallbearers will be Doug Smith, Tony Gray, Shane Henderson, Johnny Gray and Todd Gray.

Honorary pallbearers are special friends, nurses and doctors in ACCU and the Emergency Room, VA medical doctors, nurse teams, Susan Davis at the VA, Agape Sunday School class and First Baptist Church in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Project 721 at First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, Ala.