Allen Lee Gray, 77, of Philomath, Oregon, died June 17, 2023. Allen Gray was born on December 1, 1945, to Dallas and Ester Gray in Whitman, Nebraska.
Allen moved to Falls City, Oregon in 1951. When he was 19 years old, Allen had a major accident and lost most of his left hand. Allen did not let his handicap hold him back. He attended college in Salem, Oregon at Merritt Davis Business College and graduated June 14, 1969, in Business Administration.
On March 29, 1968, he married Carla Mae Crowner. They owned an Arco gas station in Richland, Washington. They had their first son Randy Allen Carlson in 1971, born in Pendleton, Oregon. They had their second son Steven Lee Roy in 1973, born in Hermiston, Oregon. They moved to Salem, Oregon in 1976. He painted residential homes working for Barr Painting. Later, he worked for the State of Oregon at the MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility in the maintenance department. He retired in March 2003 after 23 years working for the State of Oregon.
He loved to remodel or add-on to every home he purchased. He enjoyed taking his family to Sand Lake at the Oregon coast in his VW sand buggy. He was very proud of his grandchildren. He was a very hard-working individual, loving husband and father who had the biggest heart of generosity and selflessness. He would read his bible every morning. His interests were building and fixing things to save money, taking his grandchildren on dates and traveling.
His first wife went to be with the Lord December 30, 2021, from Covid complications. On August 20, 2022, he married Ginny Tallman of Philomath, Oregon, a childhood friend. He sold his home and moved to Philomath to be with Ginny, his “sweetie pie.” He was madly in love with Ginny and made her believe she was a Queen. They had plans to travel across the United States.
Allen is survived by his wife Ginny; children Randy Gray and Steven Gray; stepchildren Karla Bauman and Michelle Haddock; brothers James Gray, Dean Gray and Louie Gray; sisters Bonnie Cossey and Francis Cady; and seven grandchildren, six step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Allen was preceded in death by his first wife Carla (Crowner) Gray and his brothers Don Gray and Gary Gray.
Memorial Services will be held on July 29, 2023 at 3 p.m., at the church Allen and Ginny attended together, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 150 James St., Philomath, Oregon 97370.