Gordon Melvin Gray

Gordon was born November 6, 1944, in Baltimore, Maryland to Marie C. and William Henry Gray Sr.

Gordon was not one to share memories of his youth, however he was christened into the Methodist Church when he was a baby and there are pictures of him performing in a play when he was young. He was interested in baseball and became an umpire when he was in high school for little league. He enjoyed roller skating, watching baseball, NASCAR, and football.

He graduated from Catonsville High School in Baltimore, Maryland in 1963. It was here that he met his future wife. Their first date was the result of a dare from one of his friends. In 1964 that dare led to a wedding, three children and a 58-year marriage.

Gordon worked in the world of parts and small engine repair while raising three children in Baltimore with Regina. In the fall of 1977, the family purchased an old school bus, painted it baby blue and loaded their belongings to begin their journey across the country that would eventually lead them to Vancouver, Washington. Gordon was no stranger to hard work and provided for his family working in sawmills until finding a more permanent place at Skyline Sports in Vancouver as a small engine and ski mechanic.

After several years in the Vancouver and Portland area, Gordon and Regina moved to East Wenatchee, Washington where he spent time working as a small engine mechanic at Bob’s Engine clinic, part time clerk at 7-11 and substitute custodian for Eastmont school district.

Gordon and Regina would later settle in Seattle where they retired as resident apartment managers at Town and Country Apartments after about 28 years. They retired to Tulalip, Washington in 2020.

Over the course of his life, Gordon enjoyed working on small engines, woodworking and tinkering with small projects that needed to be fixed. Gordon and Regina enjoyed antiques and collectibles and met many people participating in shows throughout the Portland, Seattle, Puyallup and Ocean Shores areas.

Gordon is survived by his children; Stephanie (Dan) Lehman, Jeffery (Holly) Gray, Cynthia (John) Johnson, his grandchildren; Steven Lehman, Christina Lehman (Kyle Wagstaff), Melissa Lehman, Allison Lehman, Crystal Fugere, Catherine Gray, Adam (Kayla) Gray, Jacalyn Gray and 5 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents William Henry Gray Sr., Marie C. Gray, his wife Regina Gray

A celebration of life for Gordon will be held on Saturday, August 12, 2023, with a gathering and visiting time at 2:00 pm and service to start at 2:30 pm. Please join the family at Schaefer-Shipman Funeral Home, 804 State Ave. Marysville, WA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice.