Gray

"A life lived well."

James H. Gray, 77, of Brandywine Village, Butler, died Tuesday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born in Ford City, Nov. 28, 1929, he was the son of the late Homer and Dorothy Gray.

He was a member of Rider Lutheran Church, West Sunbury. He attended Punxsutawney High School.

Jim retired after 35 years at Bessemer Lake Erie Railroad. He served in the Navy, acted as president of Unionville Fire Company for many years, and was a long standing member of Masonic Lodge 252, and the Consistory of New Castle.

Jim, the "ultimate" Pirates fan, who in his younger years played baseball throughout Butler County and while in the Navy, and horseshoes in the Butler County Horseshoe League; also enjoyed whittling, bluegrass music, gardening and camping.

His greatest pride throughout his life was his family. Surviving are his loving wife of 56 years, Mary C. Gray, who was his childhood sweetheart; three daughters, Kathleen and her husband, Gene Danko, of Sewickley, Debbie and her husband, Bruce McCandless, of West Sunbury, Tammie and her husband, Doug Brown, of Mechanicsburg; and two sons, James S. and his wife, Lisa, of Butler, and Thomas and his wife, Patty, of Butler. He is "Papa" to 10 precious grandchildren who consider him a legend, Jeremy and his wife, Rachel, Lucas and Alisha, Nicole and her husband, Justin, Tyler, Jacob, Katie, Brian, David, Rachelle and Lauren. His pride and joy were his four great-grandchildren, Olivia, Eden, Jasper and Everest.

He is also survived by three brothers, John, Richard and Howard Gray; a sister, Dorothy "Sis" Welsch; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Thomas.

<B>GRAY —</B> Friends of James H. Gray, who died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the <B>Young Funeral Home</B>, 127 W. Jefferson St. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rider Lutheran Church, West Sunbury, with pastors John Schneidmiller and Dennis Hindman, officiating. Burial will be at Greenlawn Burial Estates, Mount Chestnut.Memorial donations may be made to Rider Lutheran Church, 189 Rider Church Road., West Sunbury, PA 16061; or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 810 River Ave., Suite 100, Pittsburgh, PA 15212.Information also is available at www.youngfuneralhomes.com.