James Roger Gray

Aurora, CO - A much-loved husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, James Roger Gray, age 86, died March 9, 2018 at his home in Aurora, Colorado. He was predeceased by his parents Roger Cleo and Ruth Eleanor (James) Gray and sister Jo Ann Gray of Louisville, Kentucky.

Jim is survived by his wife of 64 years, Fumiko Gray of Aurora, Colorado; daughters Mari Tyre and husband Mark Tyre of Apollo Beach, Florida, Jo Ellen Snell and husband Allen Fears of Denver, Colorado, and Debbie Salvato and husband Michael Salvato of Albuquerque, New Mexico; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Born in McHenry, Kentucky, Jim grew up in Louisville before attending Western Kentucky University and then enlisting in the Air Force in 1951 to serve his country in Korea. After being stationed at numerous bases around the world, Jim retired at Lowry Air Force Base in 1974. He is a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts and was honored with a Bronze Star for meritorious achievement. Jim was also a proud member of the Aomori Masonic Lodge. The discipline and patriotism he learned in the Air Force stayed with him his entire life, as friends and family will attest.

Jim was a tinkerer and self-taught master at everything. He enjoyed getting his hands dirty and keeping busy with projects-from finishing basements to landscaping yards. He became a "master gardener", taking great pride in his tomato plants. He will be forever missed and greatly loved.

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