James “Jim” Arthur Gray, 94, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Monday, August 31, 2015 at the Golden Living Center in Odessa.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 3, 2015 at the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in the Greenton Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Lafayette County Cancer Coalition. Condolences for the family may be left at
www.ralphojones.com or on our Facebook Page.
Jim was born on March 11, 1921 in Odessa, MO to Arthur and Lucy (Murry) Gray. He graduated from Odessa High School in 1939. On December 19, 1943 he married Anna Margaret (Brannock) Gray in Odessa, MO, who survives of the home. Jim retired from Allis-Chalmers as a Lead Man in the Pattern Layout Department for 29 years. He was a member of the United Steelworkers Union Local 1958 in Kansas City, MO. In addition to working for Allis-Chalmers, Jim also farmed from 1943 until moving to town in 1962. He was a member of the Bates City Baptist Church in Bates City, MO and he served as a past council member of the Odessa City Council. In addition to spending time with his family and friends, he enjoyed playing pool and croquet, camping, gardening and working outdoors.
In addition to his wife Anna, Jim is survived by two children, Emma Lou Specker and husband Gene of Odessa, MO and Tom Gray and wife Beverly of Kansas City, MO; five grandchildren, Dean Specker, Dawna Johnson and husband Eric, Danette Dyer and husband Roger, Darrick Gray and wife Wednesday and Danielle Kemble; 11 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren; one sister, Shirley Begemann of Odessa, MO and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Gray and a sister in infancy.