Charley Ross "Chief" Gray

Charley Ross "Chief" Gray

Funeral services for Charley "Chief" Ross Gray, 97, of Fort Cobb were held 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at the Church of Christ in Fort Cobb with Rev. Billy Clabaugh officiating.

Chief was born January 10, 1912 to John Albert and Mary Gray in Winnipeg, Alberta, Canada and died Thursday, January 22, 2009 at the Binger Nursing Home.

He worked at all types of farm labor when he was young and in later years he developed his drilling, construction and welding skills.  He worked in the ship yards in San Diego, California during World War II.  Chief was a driller by trade, who worked for several large oil companies until his retirement at the age of 70.  He was united in marriage to Zella Mae in 1964.  They loved to travel.  She preceded him in death in 2001.  They spent over 30 wonderful years together.  He received the nick name "Chief" and it has remained with him his entire life.  His smile could and did light up a room.  Though he could be irascible, he was a joy to be around most of the time.  He had a thousand stories, and most of them were true.  While he was on earth he lived the way most men dream of living.  He did what he wanted to do, not necessarily what other thought he should do.  He was kind to the weak, a friend to the friendless, a father figure to many (though he had no children of his own), and a hero to all who knew him well.  He loved his family, especially his brothers and sister.  After his wife went to be with the Lord in 2001, he moved to Fort Cobb and lived with a niece and her family, Sandra and Larry Bellamy until December 8, 2006 when he went to the Binger Nursing Home.  One of Chief's favorite past times was watching the Fort Cobb boys play baseball.  He hardly missed a home game.  He was a member of the Church of Christ in Fort Cobb.  Chief leaves a wonderful legacy for both family and friends.  Chief was of the Delaware-Cherokee heritage.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Zella Mae Gray; three brothers, Johnnie Albert, Jesse Joseph and Emanuel; one sister, Frances Louise; and a very special niece, Gay Wilburn.

He is survived by nieces, Sandra Bellamy and husband, Larry of Fort Cobb, Juanita Worsham and husband, Milton of Texas, Dixie Norton and husband, Gregg of Illinois and Onita Virmontes of California; a very special nephew, Gary Gray of Dubai, Arab-Emirates; other relatives and many special friends; and his wife, Zella Mae's children, Lahoma and JoAnne and their families.

Burial was in the Fort Cobb Cemetery under the direction of Fort Cobb Funeral Home.

Obituary reproduced with permission of the Carnegie Herald.