David James Gray

“Bull” “Gust of the Wind Geezer” “Poppa D”

April 03/1943 – Feb 05/2022

Peacefully on February 05/2022, our Dad and Grandpa was called home, leaving to mourn his passing, his twin sister Joanne, brother Ronald Gray and his children; Jeannie Gray, Sandra Gray, and David Gray Jr, and his many generations after that.

Dave and his twin Joanne were born in Birch Falls, Ontario, April 03/1943. After the twins turned 16, they both left the homestead for work, Joanne moved to Toronto and Dave left the province for work. He did diamond drilling and logging. He was certified in welding, carpentry, plumbing, heavy equipment operating. His hobbies were photography, fixing cars, hunting, fishing, anything to do with the outdoors and tinkering around his house, telling tales, and playing chess on his computer. He had strong beliefs that women shouldn’t cut their hair and should have long nails and no one should be eating pork or white bread. After many years of moving around for work, Dave settled in Wanless, Mb for quite sometime, where he raised his very rambunctious children with his wife Josephine Moar (Puffy). He met a lot of great people during his stay in Wanless, especially his best friends Dale & Elda Hedly and Brenda Moose. After Wanless, he moved to Swan River/Minitonas, where you could find him drinking coffee at A&W on the benches out front or chopping wood outside his house for his wood stove. Dave made lots of friends living in the area that he loved so much. Dave Mourned the passing of 4 very important people he cared for during those years, Ma, Mary Smith, Ted Wagner, and his wife Claudia. He met Randy Dietz in The Pas, mb through their love of photography, Randy would develop Dave’s film rolls, and got very close over the years. Dave adored Randy’s 4 children who grew up calling him uncle. He met the Taylors and their children. Their children also grew up knowing Dave as Uncle.  Dave lived a relaxed lifestyle, helping all his friends with their maintenance needs, giving his friends a ride if they needed it and hanging out with his children and grandchildren at the Ford crossing east of town. After many years of his life in swan river, he reunited with his best friend Claudia, and uprooted his life to live the rest of his life along side of her in Bangor, Sask. The two married in March of 2015. Sadly, his wife passed not long after the two exchanged their vows. Dave carried out his life the way he always did, adding tongue and groove to his home, tinkering on things, Drilling things to the floorboards that he didn’t want his grandchildren moving around, enjoying coffee with his friends and neighbors, and working to help business owners maintain their facilities.

Dave has 4 children Jeannie Gray, Sandra Gray, David Gray Jr, Marlin Gray (Melanie McKinney-Gray)

Grand-children: Jessica Gray (Trev Ellis), Jeannine McKinney, Alison Blecker (nee McKinney/Charley Blecker), Blair Gray, Samuel Panko, Destiny Gray, Katherine Gray, Gina MLT (Nee Mckay / Kolt MLT), Eugene McKay, Robert McKinney-Gray (Trisha Cameron), Noah McKinney-Gray, Melody McKinney, Megan Lavesseur, Ronnie Gray, Amy Gray, Believe Gray, 28 Great-Grand Children and many nieces and nephews.

Dave cherished all his friends and family. Anyone who knew and adored him, knew he was stubborn but had a heart of gold.

Dave was predeceased by his wife Claudia Gray (nee Wagner) and the mother of his children, Puffy, his parents Jim and Jean Gray, His son Marlin gray, Brother Michael Gray, Wallace Moar, and sisters Deloris Gray (Dory), Jane Gray and Mary Gray, and many friends and family who he always loved to share stories about over the years with his grandchildren.

Honourable mentions: All the staff from A&W, Swan River, mb and Esterhazy, Sask. Samantha Rairie and Family, The Terry Family, Liz Johnson, The Chen Family, Patt and Keith Coutts for always keeping Dave and his family in their thoughts. Penny & Maury Gilman, Late Charlie McKinnon and his wife Irene, Wanless Residents, Late Hugh Ronald, and Family, Hilbre bible camp. Ray Delcousie and Family, and too Elva Iwanchuck. The staff from The Junction, Stockholm, Sask, his AA Family in Stockholm, and the Children he sponsored over the years.

Our Old man was cremated, with no services to date. The family will hold a memorial and place him next to his wife with a date yet to be decided. Thank you everyone for helping our grandfather/Dad/Uncle/friend/brother live his best life to the fullest.

Well now here we are,

To try and put into words,

Our foremost memories,

And how much you’ll be missed, one would say.

You were set in your way,

Not budging to far from your beliefs,

Just once in a while, to offer some relief,

No one needs to be told you had thick skin

And a heart of gold.

You tried gearing and steering everyone through life.

Offering up advice to anyone that needed it,

And could use a helping hand.

Time has gone by and you have touched so many hearts.

Still hard to believe you are gone.

The jokes and smiles you had every day

We are sure going to miss in every way.

You always said “Live life to the fullest”

And we believe you lived yours

Always true to your words.

Poem By Randy Dietz and his Children.