Brian Keith Gray

Brian Keith Gray was born to Kenny and Betha Gray on July 13, 1970, in Palisade, Colorado, joining older brother, Ken. After he was born the family moved to Sapulpa, Oklahoma, where his younger brother, Walter was added to the family. When he was three they moved to Springfield, Oregon and later to the Forest Grove/Banks area where he grew up. When their baby sister Velvadene was added to the family, Brian and his brothers were very protective of her. While the brothers defended her from others, they became her official teasers. The faith was very important to Kenny and Betha, which was clear in the way they raised their family. When his father developed cancer, the family moved to the Hays family property on Pihl Road outside of Banks, Oregon and continued living there after his passing. With the loss of their father at a young age, Brian stepped up to be the man of the house and took on the responsibility of caring for his mother and siblings. His siblings often looked to him for advice in the faith, raising children, home projects, and his famous ice cream recipe. Being raised by a widowed mother left an impression on Brian and he took great care of other widows throughout his life. Brian shared with his siblings and cousins many fond memories on the Hays family property. Many Beebee gun wars were had with both each other and neighboring kids, every tree was climbed, and the pond always jumped in; the cousins didn’t leave any part of the land unexplored and had stories and scars to show from it all. In the summers they would work in the strawberry fields. He also spent time in the summers in Colorado climbing Mt. Garfield with his cousins. Brian was quick to accept any dare or fight. As a teenager Brian enjoyed traveling to church functions around the Northwest, and in Colorado. He worked at a horse ranch in Banks, Oregon and loved to tell the story of hanging out of a cop car trying to catch a loose horse on HWY 26. His senior year of high school he moved to Arizona with his mother and siblings, there he graduated before they all moved back to Oregon. Brian was baptized in Hagg Lake on November 6, 1986, into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn. Living the faith and serving the Lord was very important to Bro. Brian. He was a prayerful man and knew the scriptures well, living a spiritual life that was an example to others. When they were both 16 Brian began dating Michelle McManus; they fell in love. After dating for three and a half years they decided to spend their life together, and the two were married on October 27, 1990, in North Plains, Oregon. They lived their first year of marriage in Forest Grove, Oregon, and then moved to Olathe, Colorado in the fall of 1991. While living in Colorado Brian and Michelle were blessed with their oldest three children, Elise, Tyrel, and MacKenzie. He spent some time working in roofing before going to work at Russel Stovers Chocolate factory in Montrose, Colorado. Candy making was something Brian enjoyed, and he used the skills he learned there to make sweets with his family at Christmas every year. At the end of 1995 they moved to Redmond, Oregon where a new church assembly was starting out. While living in Oregon they were blessed with three more children, Melissa, MylaAnne, and Dale. In 1998 they bought a house on Crooked River Ranch where they raised their children for 11 years. During that time, they taught their children the faith, traveling often among brethren and to church campouts, and gatherings. Brian worked construction in many capacities, including roofing, siding, framing, doors and hardware. There were times he had his own business and times he worked for others. Brian was very skilled in the work that he did, and when he came across something he didn’t know he would find a way to learn. Brian’s dream was to have his own cabinet shop. In the summer of 2009 Brian and Michelle moved their family to Brewster, Washington where they continued raising their family. As their children grew, he was happy to see them graduate and choose the Lord in their lives. He continued to work hard to provide for his family. In Washington, Brian again had the opportunity to have his own business, while he also did construction projects for Wilson and Wilson Landscaping. Brian had a love for food, gathering people, and hospitality, which he instilled in his children. He and Michelle were known for always having brethren in their home. Brian was the first to help where he saw a need. Over the years he planned many singings, ice cream socials, and barbecues. At church campouts he could always be found in the kitchen making breakfast. He was also a big joker with a good sense of humor and was always teasing the children. After they lost their home in a wildfire in 2014, the Lord granted them a new home that Brian got to build with the help of many others on property outside of Brewster that they named ‘A Gray Area’. Brian loved to tell people the many ways they were blessed with this home, and how they were able to continue sharing with the brethren. The addition of their first grandchild, Kyle James Gray, in March of 2024 brought Brian great joy. As a teenager Brian had a green 1959 Chevy Apache and for his 50th birthday his kids found a blue one to surprise him with, which he requested to have his final ride in. On February 13, 2025, Brian won his race with the Lord and passed from this life in his home with his family. Brian was preceded in death by his parents, Kenny and Betha Gray, and his mother in-law, Linda McManus. Brian is survived by his wife, Michelle Gray; and daughters: Elise and MacKenize Gray of the home in Brewster, Washington; son, Tyrel and wife Dallisha of Lexington, Oklahoma; daughter, Melissa Gray of Rexburg, Idaho; daughter, MylaAnne and husband, Seth Mann of Vici, Oklahoma; son, Dale Gray and wife, Mariah and grandson, Kyle of Pateros, Washington; brother, Ken Gray and wife, Lacey of Henryetta, Oklahoma, brother, Walter Gray and wife, Heather of Brewster, Washington; and his sister, Velvadene Bohall and husband, Jason of Lexington, Oklahoma. Brian also has many beloved aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws, brethren, and friends who will miss him greatly.

Tributes

Brian Keith Gray

July 13, 1970 - February 13, 2025