JIMMY RAY GRAY, 72, died Sept. 13, 2015, with burial
in New Hope Memorial Gardens at Sunnyvale, TX.
Jimmy was born in Shreveport, LA, on Sept. 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 & Gini married
in June of 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, TX, 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 & 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, TX; daughter
Kathy Gray Cummings and husband Andy Cummings of
Sachse, TX; 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 & 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 & 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.