James "Jim" Gray

James ( Jim) Leroy Gray Sr.

May 2, 1932 – August 24, 2026

Jim Gray passed away peacefully at the age of 94 on August 24, 2026.

Jim was born on (as he liked to say) “Five-Two-Thirty-Two” to William (Bill) Gray and Edna Overton Gray. He joined the family as the seventh of eight children. He attended school in Arch Creek and Upton, Wyoming.

In 1951 he married Helen E. Forney. Together they had two children, James (Jim) Leroy Gray Jr. and Debra Kay Gray Kimsey. They later divorced.

In 1955, Jim joined the army and was honorably discharged in 1957.

July 10, 1958, he married Betty Lou Hayes Lynch. Together they had two children, Russell Lee Gray and Jona May Gray Creswell. With this marriage he also gained Betty’s three daughters Debra Rae, Linda Kay, and Jeanne Fay Lynch.

Jim was a “jack of all trades”. He was a licensed electrician and plumber. After the service he went to work for Jones Electric in Upton, which was owned by his sister and brother-in-law, Lois and Ben Jones. He was there until 1987 when Ben and Lois retired. He then went to work for Carl Underwood at Underwood Oil and Gas as a Field Foreman until he retired in 2009 at the age of 77.

After retirement, Jim enjoyed working on and restoring old Fords. He loved working with wood and created many wonderful objects which he gave to family and friends. A trip to Deadwood was always a favorite.

He is survived by his children; Jim (Leane) Gray, Debbie Gray Kimsey, Jona Gray Creswell, Deby Lynch, Linda (Kevin) Whisler, 12 grandchildren; Justin Kimsey, Bill Kimsey, Jeramy Kimsey, Cheryl Gray Castillo, Brandi Gray Castillo, Sonny Coffey, Heather Dillinger, Christy Porter, Dennis Schweitzer, Darby Whisler, Jamie Metzenberg, and Amanda Metzenberg, several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Welcoming him to Heaven, along with Jesus, were his parents, five brothers, two sisters, his wife of 45 years, Betty Lou, children Russell Gray and Jeanne Lynch Metzenberg, grandson Devin Gray, granddaughter Summer Dawn Prichard, and great-granddaughter Jazmin Castillo. What a gallant gathering it must have been.

Also…Dolly Parton was his favorite – so we like to believe – that with a big smile on his face, he entered the Pearly Gates alongside Dolly.

R.I.P. DAD, GRANDPA, UNCLE, AND FRIEND. You will be forever loved and missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that memorials be made in Jim’s honor to the Upton Ambulance Fund. Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Meridian Mortuary, 111 S. Railway Ave, Newcastle, WY 82701, or expressed online at meridianmortuary.com.