Jimmy Ray Gray

Jimmy Ray Gray died Sunday, September 13, 2015.Jimmy was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, on September 22, 1942.He attended Louisiana Tech University and graduated in 1965 with a degree in Electrical Engineering.It was there he met the love of his life, Virginia Louise Roquemore, better known as Gini.Jimmy and Gini married on June 7, 1965.By 1971, they had two children, Kevin Ray Gray and Kathy Lou Gray (Cummings). Jimmy started his career at Arkansas Power and Light. In 1971, he relocated the family to work at Western Electric in Mesquite, Texas, which changed names several times through the years and ultimately became Lucent Technologies, from where he retired.In the years following, he always seemed to run into people from “The Plant,” in Mesquite, Sunnyvale and surrounding areas.Another side of his career had him teaching an Engineering class, DC Circuits, at Eastfield College in Mesquite. Jimmy was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Mesquite since 1972. Jimmy served as a deacon, elder and various other volunteer positions.Jimmy and Gini also volunteered by delivering for Meals on Wheels. Jimmy is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Gini; son Kevin Ray Gray of Forney, Texas; daughter Kathy Gray Cummings and husband Andy Cummings of Sachse, Texas; grandchildren Christopher Gray (and Emily Cantrell), Michael (and Lorena) Gray, Stephen (and Emily) Gray, Mason Gray, Harper and Harrison Cummings; great-grandchildren Rylan and Lola Gray, Quentin Gray, Olivia Gray (all the grandchildren called him, “Pawpaw.”); sister-in-law Daphne Lewis and husband Mark Lewis and their children; cousins Linda Young, Stayton Oliver, Robert Turk, Louise Nelson; and many other relatives and friends. Jimmy and Gini had recently celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in June.A wonderful party was thrown with many loving family and friends in attendance. Besides his family and friends, Jimmy's passions included sailing and he's owned multiple sailboats. The family spent many fun times together on their boat, "Flutterby," at various lakes in the area and around Texas. Jimmy was also in sailing clubs and participated in many races! He also very much enjoyed playing golf, riding his motorcycle and meeting weekly with friends as regularly as he could for breakfast. Gini always thought his tombstone should say, “One more paragraph," which seemed to be his usual reply while working at his desk or reading the paper when she needed him to help with something around the house. And Jimmy's children remember him whistling as he walked around the house. He would also sing, “School days, school days, goody good ole school days,” on the first day of school. Always an engineer, Jimmy had a mind for numbers and finances. While he successfully managed a family, household and career for many years until the kids were grown and on their own, it was after retirement that his interest in the financial world flourished. He was always on top of all the latest articles, trends, tips, etc. – all the things you should and shouldn't do to ensure a secure financial future. He always wanted to share his knowledge – whether about money, houses, cars or life in general, and he was never shy about sharing his opinion, too. He wanted the younger generations to learn how everything works and how to do the right things for a better life. Jimmy loved his wife...his family...his friends...his church. He is loved and will be missed by them all.