Mr. Howard Lawrence Gray

Obituary Howard “Tuttie” Lawrence Orlando Gray, age 82, passed away on August 15, 2022 surrounded by his family at his home in Blue Springs, Missouri. He was the fourth of five children born on August 6, 1940 in Purvis, Mississippi to Robert and Emma Gray. The family moved to Kansas City, Missouri in September 1940. Howard grew up in the Kansas City, Missouri area and graduated from Central High School in 1959. He was a gifted athlete who played football and ran track. After high school, went on to attended college at Central Missouri State University (CMSU) in Warrensburg, MO, on an athletic scholarship for both football and track. He broke multiple track records in both high school and in college. At CMSU, Howard received a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1964. He continued his education and in 1966, he earned a Master of Science in Education. After completing college, Howard started working for the Kansas City Missouri School District as a special education teacher at Manual High School. He also taught social studies, civics, history, and math. He was also a football and track coach. Howard was truly dedicated and enjoyed teaching and shaping young minds that after several years of teaching, he advanced his career by becoming the Vice-Principal of Westport Junior High School and Southeast High School. He later became the Principal at Manual Career Technical High before retiring in 2004. Howard was a lifelong educator and spent 41 years working in the Kansas City, Missouri School district. After Howard retired, he served on the Kansas City Public School Retirement System Board of Trustees until he became ill. In 1968, Howard married Donna Brown Hughes in Kansas City, Missouri. To this union a son was born, Howard C. Gray. He was also the stepfather to Dana Brown. He later married Heloise Mason Gray. To this union they have three children, Karin, Keith, and Kristopher. Howard accepted Christ at a young age and was a member of Centennial United Methodist Church. He served as an usher and was on the Centennial Usher Board up until he became ill. Howard was a devoted father that enjoyed spending his time lifting up his family and pushing them to do better. He enjoyed traveling, especially taking cruises with his wife, his brother, Robert, and friends. He loved going fishing with his best friend Carl Evans, watching western movies, and listening to jazz music. His favorite hobbies were coin collecting and photography. Howard is preceded in death by his parents Robert A. and Emma L. Gray, brother Robert E. Gray, sisters Annette Brown and Peggy Wilson. Howard is survived by his wife Heloise Mason Gray of Blue Springs, Missouri; his children, Howard (Lucinda) Gray of Kansas City, Missouri; Karin Gray-Medlin of Blue Springs, Missouri; Keith Gray of Blue Springs, Missouri; Kristopher (Gina) Gray of Blue Springs, Missouri; and step-daughter Dana (Craig) Pryor of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; his sister Sylvia Ricketts of Kansas City, Missouri; his grandchildren, Joshua, Carlin, Korey, Kyrsten, Miles, Kyler, Karizma, Dylan, Nya, Keenan, Kyler, Kamilla, and Kade; his nieces, nephews, his lifelong friend Dennis Whitfield, Marie Hamilton, and a host of other family and friends. Funeral service will be held Saturday, August 27, 2022, 11:00 am Centennial United Methodist Church. Interment: Forest Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:30am-11:00am at the church. Service conducted by Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Condolences may be shared on our website. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mr. Howard Lawrence Gray, please visit our floral store. Read More

Mr. Howard Lawrence Gray

August 6, 1940 - August 15, 2022