Leslie Gray Obituary

Leslie Ray Gray, the man who could turn a wrench and a phrase with equal ease, has taken his final bow on life's stage. Born under the sunny skies of Oakland, CA, on May 20, 1944, Les spent his 80 years mastering the art of living. His journey came to a peaceful close in Marble Falls, TX, on March 17, 2025, after a valiant dance with Parkinson's that, while it may have slowed his steps, never dampened his spirit.
Les was a man who knew the value of family, friendship, and a good belly laugh. He was preceded in death by his beloved first wife one month shy of 55 years, Geneva Gray, parents Leta Stokes and Buck Gray, his brother John Ty Fredrick, and his sister Cecilia Rivera Fredrick. Carrying on his legacy of love and laughter are his wife, Tammi Gray, his children Brenda (Tom) Harrison, Les Gray (Michael Shoop), and Steven (Minda) Gray, and a brigade of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were the spark plugs of his heart. Les was adopted at age two. He was born Leslie Ray Fredrick and his last name was changed to Gray. He met his biological brothers and sisters late in life after a lifelong search.
Les was a man who could fix anything except a bad joke, and even then, he'd try. His hands, weathered from years at Jameson Gas Plant and AAA Plumbing, were as skilled at restoring antique cars as they were at crafting a home filled with warmth. His passion for antique car shows was only rivaled by his love for RV camping but only after the frustration of backing up and leveling the motor home. He had a photographic memory especially when it came to the Hemming Motor News. He could tell you what page the car was on, the car value, and the history of the car. He was very proud of owning the restaurant Twisters. We had a secret code if he had his hand on someone's shoulder, it was time to rescue the patron. He had a big heart and always took a plate to someone in need. Big Jim appreciated the kindness provided by Les Gray.
His grandchildren, Jace, Casey (Kelsey), Cassidy, Kadin (Selena), Corbin, Colynn (Alyssa), Keeling, Kamron (Eric), Crary, Allie Shoop, Anna (Kasey) Scott, Austin Gray, Greg Robinson (Brandi), Kayla Gray, and Gavin (Jasmine) Gray, along with his great-grandchildren that range from Noah and Conner Garcia to baby girl Gray, due in April, were the fuel to his ever-burning flame of life.
As handy as he was kind, and as funny as he was wise, Les could be counted on to offer a quip or a quick fix, whichever was more urgently required. His humor was as classic as his cars, and just as cherished. In that spirit, Les might have nodded in agreement with the words of the great George Burns, "Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city." But for Les, the closer, the better.
Les's life was an open road, marked by the laughter of friends, the joy of family gatherings, and the purr of a well-tuned engine. He leaves behind not just a fleet of shiny antique cars and a legacy of love, but a treasure trove of memories that will keep his spirit cruising along in the hearts of all who knew him.
Like any great comedian, Les knew that timing is everything, and while we wish we had more time, we take comfort in knowing that he's now sharing a laugh with the stars. His was a life well-lived, a race well-run, and a joke always well-timed. Les Gray, the man who could find humor in the nuts and bolts of life, has left us chuckling through our tears.
So, as we bid farewell to Leslie Ray Gray, let's remember that, in his words, "A life without laughter is like a car without wheels-it's not going to get you anywhere." Let's keep the wheels turning and the laughter flowing, just as he would have wanted. After all, the best way to honor a man who loved a good laugh is to keep on laughing. We will miss his favorite quips, "Shut the door, your letting the flies out, bring back a pack of $100 bills" when asked if he needed anything, and "Geneva do you have to be so kind?". My brother will miss the 6:29 pm frantic calls that he can't get the Wheel of Fortune channel to come on or he can't find the Kansas City Chiefs game, how to print something from the computer and trouble shooting the I-phone-because his phone "doesn't do that". "Keep your Fork" The Best is Yet to Come!
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