Jefferson Scott Gray

Jeff was born on August 3, 1949 in St. Louis, Missouri to Mary Virginia (Thweatt) and John Herbert Gray and grew up in Wichita Falls, Texas. His family moved to Austin in 1965 and he graduated from Austin High School in 1967. Jeff remained a "Loyal Forever" Maroon throughout his life. He served as President of the Football Booster Club and "The Voice of the Maroons" as announcer of House Park Football and Girls Basketball. Jeff was honored as Austin High's Distinguished Alumni in 2009.

Jeff spent thirteen childhood summers at Camp Longhorn in Burnet, Texas, where he will forever be remembered as "Fun Day Gray". The friendships formed there were lifelong, most especially the one with his wife of 39 years, Missy. Both he and Missy were honored with the Camp Longhorn Attawaytogo Alumni Award in 2005.

Jeff graduated from The University of Texas in 1972 where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, serving as Grand Treasurer, and the Silver Spurs. After college he was employed for many years as a commercial loan officer with American Bank and First City Bank and as comptroller at CSI. The final sixteen years of his career were spent as Executive Vice President of the Texas Chemical Council until retirement in 2006.

Jeff learned from his father's example the importance of community involvement and was a dedicated civic leader in Austin throughout his life. He served as Chairman of the Board of Camp Fire Boys and Girls, where he received the highest national volunteer award. He was Chairman of the Board of the Austin American Cancer Society and was active on the building committee at St. Austin Catholic Church. He was a member of the Downtown Austin Rotary Club where he served on the Board of Directors, as well as Foundation Chair, and Scholarship Committee Chair. He was especially proud of his thirty two years of perfect attendance at Rotary.

Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Tweet and John Gray, father-in-law Dr. Robert McCrary, brother-in-law Donald McCrary and niece Courtney McCrary. He is survived by his wife, Mary Elizabeth "Missy" McCrary Gray, their children and spouses, Lissa Anderson, Michael Anderson, Scott Gray and Lynelle Keil-Gray of Austin, Texas, Mary Elizabeth Gray of Denver, Colorado, and grandchildren Gray Anderson, George Anderson and Piper Gray of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his mother-in-law Mary Elizabeth "Deets" McCrary of Hot Springs, Arkansas, brother John Gray and wife Sandy and sister Gale Gray of Austin, Texas, and brothers-in law Dr. Rob McCrary and wife Stella of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Dr. Bryant McCrary and wife Margaret of Gulfport, Mississippi, Tom McCrary and wife Valerie of Dallas, Texas and Michael McCrary of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He is also survived by twenty three nieces and nephews and four cousins.

He was a genuinely kind, gentle, and selfless soul. He instilled in his children his strong morals, compassionate warmth, and love of family. He could always put a smile on your face with one of his MANY jokes or with his favorite: "That's what I'm talkin' about!"

Serving as pallbearers are lifelong friends Ken Hines, Jimmy Holland, Terry Parker, Jim Scott, Monty Scott, Tudey Teten, Rex Thornton, Hale Umstattd and Rob Westerkom.

The family would like to express their appreciation and thanks to caregivers David Patterson, Jonathan Mann and Kevin Minark.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18, 2012 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. A celebration of Jeff's life will be held at St. Austin Catholic Church on Monday, November 19, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. with interment to follow at Austin Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Austin Rotary Club Foundation, 301 East 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701 or Hospice Austin Christopher House, 4107 Spicewood Springs Road #100, Austin, TX 78759.