Robert Hulen (Bob) Gray
Bob Gray, 82, of rural Holden passed away after a short illness Sunday, February 12, 2023, at the Western Missouri Medical Center at the same time the Eagles scored their first touchdown in Super Bowl LVII.
Bob was born in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas on either October 2 (according to the doctor) or October 3, (according to his parents) in 1940. He was the third child of Burl and Juanita Jones Gray.
His early childhood was spent in Arkansas where he often told tales of picking cotton with his parents and older sister. His father became a Southern Baptist Pastor and, as such, was called to Holden to serve at First Baptist Church in 1957. While in high school in Holden, Bob played football, basketball and baseball. He graduated from Holden High School in 1959.
In 1959 he married a classmate, Mary Ann Musser, and they resided in and around Holden for the remainder of his life. They became parents of three sons, Mark, Matt, and Mike, who recently retired from West Central Electric Coop.
Bob’s interests included hunting and fishing of all kinds and gardening. For him deer season was like Christmas is to young children. Besides processing his own game, he loved making summer sausage and jerky. His man cave (barn) is filled with mounted antlers with some outstanding sheds included.
He tried his hand at growing many vegetable crops, some of which he had never heard of until seeing them in that year’s seed catalogue. At the time of his death, he was already planning this year’s planting.
Bob had worked at Bendix, Fisher body, poured concrete for several years and ended at Environmental Specialists where he helped close out old and build new landfill cells in several locations in the United States. He retired in 2002.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years of the home; two sons, Matt, of Blairstown, and Mike, (Chelle) of Warrensburg. To his delight he is also survived by two granddaughters, Ruthie McConville (Dale) of Warrensburg and Tiffany Gray of Warrensburg.
While many people don’t have the blessing of knowing their great grandchildren, he is also survived by five, Caleb McConville, who graduated from Warrensburg in 2022, Porter McConville, a junior at WHS, Daisie McConville, a freshman at WHS, Charlotte (Charlie) Hunt a seventh grader at WMS and Suri Hunt, a fifth grader at Sterling. These children, granddaughters and great grandchildren were the delight of his life.
He also is survived by his brother, Garry, Memphis, TN, and sisters Kay Martin, Clinton, MO and Nancy Kenniston Warsaw, MO.
Preceding Bob in death were his parents, an older brother who passed before Bob was born, his oldest son, Mark, and his older sister, JoAnne.
Services for Bob will be held Saturday, February 18, 2023, at Campbell-Cast Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 10-11:00 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.
Masonic services will precede the funeral. Pastor Tim Whitmore, assisted by Jim McDaniel, will conduct the service.
Burial will be in the Holden Cemetery following services.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children. Bob had a soft spot in his heart for children.
Online condolences may be left at www.castfuneralhome.com
