Obituary of Stewart "Skip" Reese Gray

Stewart R. “Skip” Gray of Ashtabula, formerly of Fayetteville, West Virginia, passed from this life on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Skip was born on June 29, 1939, to Margaret Summerfield Gray and Alexander Milton Gray, both of Fayetteville. He received his education in the public schools of Fayetteville, and following graduation, he attended West Virginia Institute of Technology in Montgomery. Skip had an older brother, Alex “Corky” Gray, who preceded him in death, and a younger brother, Greg, who survives. In his younger years, he raised horses and great danes. Skip’s early years in West Virginia provided him the rough-and-tumble experiences that helped form him into a Golden Gloves Champion in the world of boxing and which, ultimately, would help form the character that was Skip Gray. Skip’s initial exposure to boxing was as a partner to Tunney Hunsaker, of Fayetteville, who fought Cassius Clay his first professional fight. Clay later took the name of Muhammed Ali. As he developed as a boxer, his love of the sport took root, and he continued to be an active boxer until well into his career as a policeman. He even once boxed in a match at Madison Square Garden in New York City. He was an avid supporter of, and active participant in, the Police Olympics where he attained several state and national gold medals in the light heavyweight division. Skip married the love of his life, Nancy Patricia Bess of Fayetteville, on June 30, 1958. They resided in Fayetteville for a few years, Skip working in his father’s grocery stores. In 1959, they became the proud parents of a son, Stewart, “Skip Jr.” In 1960, they moved to Ashtabula, where they have lived since that time. They continued to add to their family with the birth of Kimberly Ann in 1962 and Mark Alexander in 1968. Skip’s career path was diverse, from the Harbor Docs to a security officer at Nichols, to the Bow Socket Plant to the Fiberglass Plant, and eventually to the world of Law Enforcement. He served Ashtabula County and the City of Ashtabula with honor and distinction as a police officer for 46 years, as a Deputy, Detective, and member of the SWAT Team for the Ashtabula County Sheriff from 1963-1991 and Patrolman for APD from 1991-2009. He retired in 2009, leaving a legacy of public service and no-nonsense law-enforcement. He held the deep and genuine respect of all those who knew him. A fiercely proud son of West Virginia from birth, Skip remained a steadfast and devoted West Virginian at heart, and returned to his cherished home State as often as he could over the course of the years, particularly to attend family reunions and Bridge Day Festivities in his hometown. To cherish his memory and his rich life history, he leaves behind his beloved wife, Nancy; his three children, Skip Gray, Jr. (Rebecca), Kim Gray (Rick Hamrick), and Mark (Heidi) Gray. He also leaves five grandchildren, Bethany, Lauren, Karlee, Erin, and Markie; nine great-grandchildren, Elliana, Makenna, Graylen, Lane, Bohden, Vehda, Raihden, Tristan, and Zoey; one brother, Gregory M. Gray (Mick Bailey) of Charleston, WV, and a host of friends and acquaintances, both personal and professional. Calling hours will be held from 2-5PM on Sunday, January 8, 2023 at the ZABACK-WILLIAMS-DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, 500 West Prospect Road, Ashtabula with member of the Ashtabula Police Department and Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department serving as honor guard for Mr. Gray. Services will be held at 11AM on Monday, January 9, 2023 at the ZABACK-WILLIAMS-DUCRO FUNERAL HOME, 500 West Prospect Road, Ashtabula. Entombment will be in Greenlawn Memory Gardens, N. Kingsville. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601. Attn: Donor Services. Please note on donation for it to stay locally. www.ducro.com