Donald Ray (Don) Gray

Donald (Don) R. Gray, 86, of Forney, Texas, unexpectedly passed away peacefully on January 24th, 2021. He was born Donald Ray Clark on August 18th, 1934, in Dallas, Texas, to Leon and Winona (Nielson) Clark. His biological father, Leon Clark, passed away five days before his birth, and Don was adopted seven years later by Winona’s new husband, Leland Gray.

As a boy, Don was raised in the Baptist church and baptized, accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

Don was raised in Seagoville, Texas, the second oldest of five boys. He graduated from Seagoville High School in 1952. Upon graduation, he attended Arlington State University for a short time on a football scholarship before taking a job with Western Electric in Riverside, California. After a brief stint in California, Don returned to the Dallas area and enrolled in SMU, obtaining a BBA in 1964 and a JD in 1967.

After passing the bar exam, Don was a practicing attorney in Dallas, Texas, for most of his career, where he worked with his law partner J. Gilbert Shaw at Shaw & Gray. After Shaw & Gray, Don worked as the City Manager for the City of Seagoville for four years before returning to practice law in 2006 with his son Scott Gray at Gray & Gray in Forney.

Don married his wife, Martha, in 1976 in Dallas, Texas, where they made their home until 1980. They lived in Rockwall, Texas from 1980 until they moved to their current home in Forney, Texas in 1992.

Don is survived by his wife Martha Gray of Forney, Texas; son Scott Gray and wife Tracy of Forney, Texas; daughter Jennifer Gray of Los Angeles, California; daughter Julie Wells of Decatur, Texas; brother Alvin Gray and wife Patsy of Dallas, Texas; brother Louis Gray and wife Carol of Little Elm, Texas; granddaughter Lily Kasper of Los Angeles, California, granddaughter Audrey Gray of Forney, Texas; granddaughter Bailey Gray of Forney, Texas; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by son Mark Gray, biological father Leon Clark, father Leland Gray, mother, Winona Gray, brother Leon Gray, and brother Gary Gray.

Don loved vacations, dogs, Chinese food, ice cream, football (especially SMU and the Dallas Cowboys), Texas Rangers baseball, playing golf, his red truck, his house, and My Cousin Vinny. But, most of all, he loved the friends and family that were close to him.

On Friday, January 29th, 2021, a funeral service will be held at 12:00 noon at Fellowship Baptist Church in Forney, Texas, with a private family burial to follow. Visitation will also be held at Fellowship Baptist Church immediately preceding the funeral service at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of sending flowers, please make donations to Forney Cemetery Inc., PO Box 1033, Forney, TX 75126.