Obituary - Jimmie Dee Gray

NORTH OGDEN - Jimmie Dee Gray, 77, loving patriarch of our family, passed away Monday, August 10, 2009 after a valiant six-week battle with viral encephalitis. He was born May 7, 1932, in Ogden, Utah, a son of Andrew DeVere (Dee) and Matha Durney Gray.

He graduated from Ogden High School and from the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s Degree in accounting. He loved to read and was a life-long learner. Jim also proudly served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War from 1951-1954. Jim worked at the Internal Revenue Service most of his career, most recently as personnel director. He expressed many times his enjoyment working there with his many friends and associates.

On August 15, 1955, he married the love of his life, Carmen Petty, in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and they were blessed with six wonderful children. He deeply loved his family, was truly devoted to them and expressed often that family—and the gospel of Jesus Christ—are the most important things in life. He will be remembered as a kind, wise and loving, husband, father and grandfather.

As a young man, he was an accomplished baseball player and was the captain of his Ogden High baseball team. He enjoyed hunting and skiing and was an avid golfer. He loved golfing with his sons and grandsons and his weekly golf buddies. But most of all, he liked any activity with his wife, children and grandchildren. He particularly enjoyed vacations with Carmen and spending time with his family at the cabin in Island Park. He will always be remembered for his enthusiasm for life and his positive attitude.

Jim was a devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving faithfully in many callings including bishop, stake president, patriarch and home teacher. He always accepted whatever call came to him and served with diligence and a happy heart. He truly loved people and had the ability to make everyone around him feel good and comfortable in his presence. He was truly a one-in-a million kind of guy. We will miss him dearly.

Jim is survived by his wife Carmen, children Brent (Trish) Gray, Cottonwood Heights, Steve (Jeri Ann) Gray, North Ogden, Dave (Patty) Gray, Layton, Julie (Whitt) Woods, North Ogden, Sue (Dale) Reeder, Pleasant View, and Mike (Amy) Gray, Pleasant View, 21 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers, Ron (Norma) Gray, Brighton, Michigan and Bob (LaVerna) Gray, Hooper.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

We wish to thank the many dedicated and caring people that took very good care of Jim while he was at McKay-Dee Hospital and Wasatch Care Center.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, August 15, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS church located at 500 West and Weber High Drive (3100 N.), Pleasant View, Utah. Family and friends may call Friday, August 14, 2009 from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m., at Myers Ogden Mortuary, 845 Washington Blvd, Ogden, Utah, and on Saturday from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. prior to services at the church.

Interment in the Ben Lomond Cemetery.

You may send condolences to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com.

8/10/09 – 3:00 p.m. – Update from Brent

It is with a heavy heart that I post this update today. Dad passed away this morning at 6:00 a.m. after a valiant six-week battle with Viral Encephalitis. He died peacefully with his family surrounding him.

We are so grateful for all of you, Dad’s friends and family, who extended their love and support to Dad and our family these past several weeks. It was a trying time for our family, but it was also a time of amazing blessings and of strengthened testimonies. We are grateful for a plan from a loving Heavenly Father that will allow us to be with Dad again. Of this we are certain.

We are saddened by Dad‘s passing and we miss him already, but we feel so, so honored to have called him our dad, husband, brother, grandpa, uncle and friend. He fulfilled each of those responsibilities in an extraordinary way, setting a wonderful example for his children and grandchildren.

President Monson has counseled us to “…live so that when that final summons is heard, we may have no serious regrets, no unfinished business.” Dad left no unfinished business, he was ready. The Apostle Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Dad could say the same.

I will post viewing and funeral information here shortly.

8/6/09 – 10:00 p.m. – Update from Brent

Dad had a really rough day today. Starting very early this morning, his breathing became very short and erratic. He’s also been asleep the whole day, not responsive at all. He is being treated with some strong meds for discomfort related to his respiratory problems and just to make him more comfortable. We’re keeping a close eye on him right now and praying for the best.

8/5/09 – 2:30 p.m. – Update from Sue

The significant news is that Dad was moved out of the hospital last night and is now in a skilled nursing facility called Wasatch Care Center in Ogden. He had stabilized enough that the doctors felt he could receive the same care at a nursing facility. And, I might add, the family is very pleased with Wasatch and with the care and concern the staff is giving Dad.

So, physically he has improved some, but there are still many things that are of serious concern, especially considering his current mental condition. He is off the ventilator and breathing mostly on his own with just a little oxygen help, but he has some fluid in his lungs that could cause some problems. He is also still receiving pain meds, which kept him mostly asleep all day today.

His situation remains very tentative from day-to-day, but we are getting some solace from the fact that he is receiving good care and seems to be comfortable most of the time. We are worried, of course, about the permanent effects of the encephalitis, but continue to pray for him every day.

8/3/09 – 1:00 p.m. – Update from Steve

Over the past couple of days the doctors have been trying to wean Dad off of the ventilator, but with limited success. During the day he’s been mostly off the vent, but at night they’ve had to put him back on. It seems that some days Dad’s overall condition stabilizes some, but other days he seems to really struggle. He does still open his eyes once in a while, but mostly he is asleep, which seems to be a blessing most of the time. It’s been a roller coaster ride these past several days.