Dennis Morrison Gray

Dennis Morrison Gray of St. James, MO passed away at his home on December 31, 2020. He was 73 years of age.

He was born December 24, 1947 in Waynesville, MO, the son of the late Audrey James and Edythe Leona Morrison Gray.

He graduated from Belle High School in 1965 and later attended St. Louis Christian College.

He was united in marriage to Sharon Hayden on March 16, 1968 in Belle, MO.

He joined the United States Army Reserves in 1966 and worked his way up to 1SG. He served for 25 years in the 471st Engineering Company in Rolla, which was a construction support company.

Dennis and Sharon attended First Church of God in St. James and were very active with the youth group. In 1992, they helped start New Hope Church of God, where Dennis later served as pastor for over 20 years. While serving as pastor at New Hope, Dennis and Sharon, along with other local Christian leaders, helped start the Christian Teen Center known as “A Place in the Son.”

Dennis was a hard-working person. He owned and operated Gray Trucking Company for many years, and later the boys joined the company. He loved running the loader, driving his dump truck, and working with his boys.

He also loved Cardinals baseball, CB radios, and watching Westerns.  

He is preceded in death by his parents, A.J. and Edythe Gray, and sister, Jennifer McGinty.

Survivors include his wife, Sharon, three children: Jennifer Landis (husband John) of St. James, David (wife Katherine) of Rolla, and Bryan (wife Pamela) of Rolla; one brother: Jim Gray and wife Letha of Harrison, Arkansas, brother-in-law Charles McGinty of Joplin, Missouri; 7 grandchildren: Madison Bogart (husband Cameron), Miranda Clark (husband Jeremy), Benjamin Gray, Lucy Gray, Amethyst Landis, Jake Gray and Haylee Gray, and 10 great-grandchildren.

He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation for Dennis Gray is at noon on Monday January 4th, 2021 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, MO.

Funeral Service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Monday January 4th, 2021 at the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, MO with Ralph Green officiating. Hal Rhea will sing “Above All” and “How Great Thou Art”, with Connie Rhea, pianist. Pallbearers will be Cameron Bogart, Jeremy Clark, John Landis, Joe Graber, Denzil Hills and George McAntire. Burial with full military honors will be in the family plot at the St. James Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Southeast Missouri Transportation Services or First Church of God Youth Group.

All arrangements are under the direction of the Jones Funeral Home in St. James, MO.

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