Bobby Neal Gray

Bobby Neal Gray, born February 20, 1940 in Biloxi, MS, ran into the arms of his savior Tuesday, December 10, 2024 in Ocean Springs, MS. 

Bobby is survived by his daughter, Shelly Gray Magee (Howard); son, Stephen Mark Gray; his wife, June; his brother, Pete Gray (Patty); daughter in law, Anjanette M. Gray; along with 11 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren; and many precious family members from the Williams family. 

Bobby is preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Linda Williams Gray; his sons, Robert Randall Gray and David Timothy Gray; his parents, John and Lillian Gray; and his father and mother in-law, Clyde and Mary Williams of Austin, TX.

Bobby was a member of Center Pointe Church in Ocean Springs, MS for the last 12 years where he had many precious and valuable friends. Our dad was a godly man that loved the Lord with his whole heart and taught us the importance of serving God and others. For well over 20 years, he was a member of Central Assembly of God/Cedar Lake Christian Assembly and served in the Children's ministry on Wednesday nights at Rainbows. He was well known as the "Peppermint Man" as he always had plenty of peppermints for the young children. He was a faithful member of the Cedar Lake Christian Assembly choir and looked forward to Thursday night practices where he made lasting friendships that he carried until he left this world.

Bobby was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 220 for over 50 years. He was a heavy equipment operator at Chevron and Foreman Supervisor for Manning Construction Company until he retired in 1999. Later that year, he and his son Mark started Gray Construction Company that thrived until 2019. Bobby was a lover of old cars and owed three Classic Cars in his lifetime, a 1929 Model A "Hezi", 1936 Ford Coupe, and a 1941 1\2 Packard that he bought from his brother-in-law, Clyde Williams of Amarillo, TX. He loved Cruisin the Coast every year and enjoyed participating with his son, David, until his death in 2021. Dad’s love of camping with our mama, Linda, took them all over the country traveling in their motorhome over many years. He and Linda loved to take cruises with the JOY ministry from Center Pointe Church and also traveled to Hawaii with many fond memories. Daddy loved to sing and listen to Christian music, loved to whistle until it drove Linda crazy, loved watching old westerns and more than any other earthly thing, loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with a passion.

The greatest thing I can say about my Daddy was that he showed us all how to be a living example for Christ that loved everyone and displayed it with such godly character and integrity. He was a man that never had anything bad to say about anyone and always tried his best to point them to Christ. Some of his last words to us were "don't cry for me, I'll be seeing my savior, your mama and my boys soon. Don't worry, we will all be together again soon." We love you Daddy and we will miss you greatly! Until we see you again.

A funeral service will be held at 1 pm at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home on Friday, December 13, 2024. Friends are invited to visit one hour prior. Interment will follow at D’Iberville Memorial Park. Since Bobby’s favorite color was blue the family wishes for those in attendance to wear shades of blue to honor his memory.

Pallbearers will be Jerod Campbell, David Gray II, Landon Gray, Wayne Gray, Jeremy Dunkin and Patrick Buchanan. 

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Bobby Neal Gray.