Alfred Gray

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Friday, 01 August 2014 11:03

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Services for Alfred Gray, a lifelong Sitkan, will be held 10 a.m. Monday Aug. 4, at St. Michael’s Cathedral, with a graveside service immediately following at Sitka National Cemetery.
The Very Rev. Fr. Michael Boyle will officiate. A reception with dinner will be at 5 p.m. at the Swan Lake Senior Center.
All are welcome to attend a viewing as well, on Sunday 5-7 p.m. at Prewitt’s Funeral Home.

Al died July 25, 2014, at Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital, at age 83. Last rites were given by the Right Rev. David, Bishop of Sitka and Alaska; and Father Michael.
Al was born Dec. 17, 1930, in Sitka, the son of Walter H. and Mary (Sam) Gray. His Tlingit Eagle name was Lkaax’eishe’, of the Kaagwaantaan, Kook Hit Tlein (Big Box House). He was a child of T’akdeinraan from the Snail House. His Russian baptism name was Alexie.
He graduated from Sheldon Jackson High,and also attended Sheldon Jackson College for a year. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1950, during the Korean conflict, and was honorably discharged after two years of service.
He was primarily a longshoreman, with Southeast Stevedoring, and also did some commercial fishing and worked at Sitka Cold Storage.
He and Lucille H. Watson were married in Sitka on Aug. 27, 1955.
Al was a huge promoter of the Tlingit culture and education, with a caring that extended far into the community.
He loved the outdoors, sport and commercial fishing and hunting, and learned Tlingit subsistence at an early age.
Along with hunting and fishing he enjoyed carving deer calls,and collected coins and watches.
He was a member of the Sitka Sportsman’s Association and the American Legion.
Al first and foremost was a strong family man, giving them his constant support and provision, throughout his life. Each of his children and grandchildren felt special and loved.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter H. and Mary M. Gray; brothers Walter Gray Jr., Nick H. Gray and Herb Gray; sister Evelyn Johns; sister-in-law Pauline Gray; and nephew Dennis Gray.
He is survived by his wife, Lucille H. Gray, in an Alzheimer’s care home in Spokane, Wash.; sister and brother-in-law Ruth and Jim Nelson of Juneau;  sons and daughters-in-law, Alfred and Karen Gray of Sonora, Calif., Alan and Donna Gray of Spokane, and Douglas and Michelle Gray of Juneau; and daughters and sons-in-law Charlene and Rock Peterson, Sitka, and Cheryl and Rick Clark of Ione, Wash.

Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; four nieces; a nephew; and numerous cousins.
Pallbearers will be James Clark, Jordan Gray, Kyle Gray, Hunter Gray, Jeremy Gray, Kelsy Gray, Fred Bruner and Zackery Clark.
Honorary pallbearers will be Linda Blankenship, Alan Blankenship, John Blankenship, Rich Clark, Rock Peterson, Jim Nelson, Willis Osbakken, Robbie Littlefield, Bob Sam, Richard Marvin Sr. and Richard Marvin Jr.
The family expressed thanks to Linda Blankenship for all the support, encouragement and help during this difficult time.