William "Bill" Donnie Gray

William Donnie “Bill” Gray was born on 1-31-1926 in Pangburn, Arkansas and passed away 9-21-2023 in Yuma, Arizona. He was born in his parents' home, on their 80 acre farm 3 miles west of Pangburn on Clay Road. He was the youngest of 12 children. Six survived and six died as infants. His parents were William Alexander Gray and Ora E. Steward Gray. He was raised in Pangburn during the Great Depression. Bill quit high school at 14 and roamed for a while. His travels included washing dishes at the new Washington National Airport, which is now Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, picking oranges in the citrus fields of Orange County, California and hoeing cotton in Somerton, Arizona.

He married Wilda L. Powell in 1944 prior to joining the Marine Corp during WWII. He was stationed at Saipan, Mariana Islands, Midway Island and then his final year was at San Pedro, California. He had contracted tuberculosis and spent a year and a half in the hospital. After recovering and being honorably discharged, he returned to Pangburn. He completed his GED and due to the G.I. Bill, he was able to complete both a bachelor's degree from Arkansas State Teachers College (currently University of Central Arkansas) and a master's from The George Peabody College for Teachers in Nashville.

In 1954, he was offered an $1,800 annual contract teaching school in Somerton, Arizona, and the family moved to Arizona where they remained. During his career he had the following positions: teaching junior high at Somerton, and many US civil service positions at YPG, Corpus Christi, Texas and Lancaster, California. The family returned to Yuma within a year and bought back the same house on Mary Ave. He was a director of Quechan Indian Services, administrative director of rural health clinics in Casa Grande and Benson.

He proudly served on the Parkview Baptist Hospital (Yuma Regional Medical Center) board of directors from 1967 to 1976.

He retired in 1988 from YPG.

He lived and enjoyed his retirement years with his dear and devoted partner, Martha Manzo.

He loved to fish and play golf, watch basketball and coach baseball throughout the years.

Bill and Wilda had three children: Vicki Ellen, Wm Don Jr. and Jamie Roselyn.

Preceding his death was Bill’s daughter, Vicki Ellen, who passed away in 1964 at the age of 15.

Today he is survived by his son, Don Gray (Paula) - Phoenix, and daughter, Jamie Penny (Jeff) - Yuma, and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill had 5 grandchildren, Lara of Fischer, Texas, Ross of Grand Haven, Michigan, Liam of Yuma, Arizona, Colin of Woodridge, Illinois and Emily of Yuma, Arizona.

Lara Ellen Gray Bettis (Jon) and their children Jonathan Jacob “JJ” Bettis, Charlotte Rose “Charlie” Bettis and Cash Curtis Bettis. William Ross Gray (Moira) and their children William Henry “Wills” Gray, Jacks Livingston Gray and Briggs Michael Gray. J. Liam Penny (Amy) and their children Pyper Renee Penny, Phoebe Gray Penny and Finley Alden Penny. Colin J. Penny (Chloe) and their children Rose Ruth Penny and Wyatt William Penny. Emily Elizabeth Penny West (Jesse) and their children Violet Ray West and Josephine Belle West.

Bill lived over 97 years and through his three children, resulted in five grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren who are so precious with their genuine innocence which is truly a blessing to us all.

One era life ends, and many new ones flourish, develop and grow.

Let’s rejoice.

We would also like to sincerely thank Southwestern Palliative Care and Hospice for their caring and professional service to Dad and specifically a special shoutout and thank you to Jerry and Maria.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared for the Gray family.