Col. Jimmie Doyle Gray's Obituary
Colonel Jimmie Doyle Gray passed away peacefully in his sleep on 5/31/26 at the age of 89 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Jim was the first child of Bill and Onolee Gray and was born on March 22, 1937 in Coalgood, Kentucky, in the Mary Helen coal mining camp in Harlan County, Kentucky. At a young age, he and his family moved to Kokomo Indiana where he graduated from Kokomo High School. He met the love of his life and future wife, Beverly, while studying at Ball State University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in English. He later earned his master’s degree in education at the University of Southern California while living in Germany. He and Beverly were married in 1959. They raised four children together while living in the US, Germany and England. They eventually settled in Sherwood, Arkansas where they lived for over 30 years.
Jim served as an Air Force officer for almost 27 years, evaluating the safety of nuclear weapons systems in the US and Europe. He achieved the rank of Colonel while stationed at Jacksonville Air Force Base in Arkansas and went on to become Vice-Commander of the Titan II ICBM missile wing. His favorite part of his career was teaching. He taught ROTC for four years at Miami of Ohio in Oxford, Ohio and taught psychology for fifteen years at North Little Rock High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. After his retirement, he focused on writing books about his childhood growing up in Kentucky and Indiana. He also volunteered at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History in Jacksonville, Arkansas.
Jim will be remembered as an avid runner. He also enjoyed playing golf with his friends and family. He had a passion for birdwatching which he shared with his family. Another one of his passions was traveling. He traveled extensively around the US and Europe and also visited Japan and New Zealand. He had a sweet spot for honey and loved trying different varieties from all around the world. His last big trip was back to Germany to visit all the places he had been stationed while serving in the Air Force.
Jim is preceded into death by his wife, Beverly, and two of his siblings, Dewayne Gray and Glenda Cutler. He is survived by his brother, Randy Gray of Elwood, Indiana, his sons, Steve and Shawn Gray, his daughters, Cindy Gray and Anna Stengel, Steve’s wife, Thu Gray, and Anna’s husband, Mike Stengel. Jimmie was especially proud of his grandchildren, Michelle Gray and her husband, Daniele Sportillo, Philippe Gray and his wife, Mirna, Andrew Stengel and his wife, Katie, and Gray Stengel and his wife, Valeria. He adored his great granddaughter, Nora Gray Sportillo.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity in his name.
A celebration of his life will take place on Saturday, June 13th at 10:30 at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
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