James P. Gray

RED LION - James P. Gray, 78, passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at York Hospital. He was the husband of Charlotte A. (Fishpaw) Gray to whom he was married for 52 years. A celebration of life tribute service will be held at 3:00 PM Sunday, December 27, 2009 at Life Tributes by Olewiler & Heffner Funeral Chapel & Crematory, Inc., 35 Gotham Place, Red Lion with Rev. Larry M. Estepp officiating. Full military rites will be presented at 3:00 PM Sunday at the Funeral Home by York County Veterans Honor Guard. A viewing will be held from 1-3:00 PM Sunday at the Funeral Home. Private burial will be held in Pine Grove Cemetery, Rayville, MD at the convenience of the family. Born August 20, 1931 in Sioux City, Iowa, a son of the late Helen (Gray) McClain, he retired from Caterpillar Inc. in 1996. Recently Mr. Gray graduated from The School of Horology of the National Assoc. of Watch and Clock Collectors in Columbia. He was a member of Red Lion American Legion, Windsor Fish and Game, and was a former member of York Moose Lodge. Mr. Gray enjoyed fishing, hunting, and spending time with his grandchildren. Sergeant Gray was a US Marine Corps veteran of the Korean War where he earned the Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Star and the Korean Service Medal with five Bronze Stars, among other service medals. In addition to his wife, Mr. Gray is survived by three daughters, Susan M. and husband Todd Wiley of Delta, Karen A. and husband John Gemmill of Red Lion and Christy L. and husband Mike LaMotte of York; six grandchildren, Tara, Nick, Joel, Jac, Paige, and Madelyn. He was preceded in death by a son, Joseph W. Gray.