Philip Gray

Philip (Phil) Verner Gray provided wonderful examples of servitude, humility, and fatherhood - he died on January 31st 2025 at the age of 75.

Phil was born as the third of four children to Keith and June [Myers] Gray in Iowa, and lived somewhat of a military-brat lifestyle growing up (Keith was a civil servant supporting the Department of the Army). His family lived in several different midwestern homes throughout those years until Phil met Pamella (Pam) Hull when they were both students at Mundelein High School in Mundelein, IL. They overcame long-distance dating challenges after high school and then married in 1971 - they remained fully committed to each other until Pam's death in 2015, and Phil's desire for their Heavenly reunion remained his one big goal to the very end.

Pam and Phil had two kids (Jenny and Keith), who are grown. Jenny lives in Olathe, Kansas with her husband Steve Greasby and son Mason, and Keith lives in Ridgecrest, California with his wife Jenn and son Andy. Both families had the full benefit of a fantastic dad and grandpa until the cruelty of Alzheimer's Disease took over in recent years.

Phil's career consisted both namely and materially of being a Service Man, and he thrived on that - he didn't want to manage, his real talents were fixing and helping as he worked for the National Cash Register Corporation (NCR), Hewlett-Packard (HP), and running the service department for Pamella's Place (Pam's quilting and sewing store). If Phil could not fix it, then it was really time for a new one...and if he could fix it then it gave him true joy to do so. After retirement his joy came from fishing, exploring, and very significant servitude as a lay worker within his church community.

Phil is survived by his kids and grandsons, as well as his brothers (Scott and Randy) and sister (Mary Skrede). Phil's family requests that if anyone is compelled to donate in tribute, that the recipient be an Alzheimer's or cancer research organization earnestly seeking cures. Donate

Well done, good and faithful servant.

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