Devoted husband, loving father
John was a devoted husband to Sharon, and loving father to his three sons, David, Richard, and Daniel. He was a dedicated professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UMass Dartmouth. He received his B.S. from the University of Nebraska, M.S. from New York University, and PhD from Ohio State University, and served as a captain in the U.S. Army.
He was a doting father and made life an exciting adventure for his boys. He loved the mountains and took his family camping, hiking and fly-fishing. He served as a Little League coach for the boys and even kept stats for their high-school teams, never missing a game. He was also a devoted sports fan, following the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants, and New York Knicks. He enjoyed fantasy football with his family.
He was a loving uncle and grandfather who loved children and animals, including his horse, Lucky, and his cats, Kiffer, Molly and Aurora.
He loved western books, movies, and music, and his collection of cowboy novels will be donated to the Prescott Public library.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon, his three boys, David (wife Michelle, children Aly and Isaac), Richard (children Peter, Rebecca, and Katherine), and Daniel (wife Chew Yen), nieces Shelly Fendly (husband Ryan) and Amy Huffman (husband Bob, children Matthew and Makena), and his cat Aurora.
Special thanks to Maggie’s Hospice and Synergy Health Care for their gentle, caring presence during his final days.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Prescott Public Library for western book purchases.
Rest in peace John, you were bigger than life, your family misses you and you will remain in our hearts and memories forever.
John Wesley Gray was born on August 3, 1934, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and died on August 20, 2023, in Prescott, Arizona. He died of natural causes, in his sleep, surrounded by family.
If you would like to share a message to the family, a story or memory about John, please leave a comment below.
He was an amazing uncle and I was so blessed to have him in my life. He always treated my sister and I as if we were his own daughters. Words are not enough to express how deeply loved he was and how much his presence on earth will be missed. My kids always referred to him as “Uncle Cowboy”. I will always carry a piece of him in my heart.
One of my favorite memories of my Uncle John was of him taking me to get my first cowboy hat. A girl can’t ride a horse without a proper hat. It was just the two of us and I remember that day vividly.
I remember how he would tease my Aunt and had a wicked sense of humor. He also loved and cared for my Mom which was special.
Most of all I will miss and remember his laugh.
SHARON, I AM SO SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. MY EXPERIENCE WITH JOHN WAS A VERY GOOD ONE, EVEN THOUGH LIMITED. PETE TALKED ABOUT JOHN REGULARLY AND HOW MUCH FUN THEY HAD TOGETHER IN THEIR YOUNG DAYS. OUR TIMES TOGETHER WHEN YOU VISITED US IN CALIFORNIA WERE VERY ENJOYABLE AND WILL ALWAYS HAVE A PLACE IN OUR MEMORIES.
I WILL TRY TO PASS THIS MESSAGE TO PETE AND HOPE HE UNDERSTANDS.
Miss you Cowboy. All my love til we meet again.
Sharon
I wish I could have gotten to know John better. He was quite an accomplished man and from what I understand an amazing father. He was married to my friend, Sharon, for 67 years! I know that he will be dearly missed.
John and I were friends long before he had a beard, a horse, or a PHD. In fact, I knew him before anyone else who might be reading this, including Sharon. We were very close thru J. High and H. School. Many memories, but one for sure that was typical John: He procured a qty. of concentrated Butyric acid from the chemistry dept. @ the U. of Nebr. Four of us placed vials of the stuff in the H.S. air ducts just prior to home room @ 8:40 am. By 9 am a fire drill was announced. Result: the whole school got a 2 hour recess. What a Senior prank in 1952 ? For the uninformed, Butyric acid has a very pungent odor—-rotten eggs? We were all called before the principal, who tongue in cheek, scolded us!
In Memoriam: Dr. John Wesley Gray (August 3, 1934 – August 20, 2023)
With heavy hearts and profound gratitude, we remember the life and legacy of Dr. John Wesley Gray. He was not just a brilliant scholar, but also a dedicated professor, a devoted mentor, and a compassionate friend. John’s impact on the lives of those he touched was immeasurable. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army and held esteemed positions as a professor in both the Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) Department and the Computer & Information Science (CIS) Department at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His life was characterized by wisdom, guidance, and unwavering support.
Many of us had the privilege of experiencing John’s profound influence firsthand. I, in particular, had the distinct honor of being personally guided by him during my academic journey. This journey began with a kind gesture when he graciously picked me up, along with my firstborn, Charlie, and my late mother, Kang, from the Providence AMTRAK station while my husband, Xiaonan, transported our family’s belongings. Little did I know then that this act of kindness would be the first of countless instances of mentorship and support that would shape my path.
John’s commitment to his students and mentees was unparalleled. He not only provided academic guidance but also nurtured personal growth. His unwavering belief in my potential and his wise advocacy for my transfer from the CIS Department to the ECE Department, the flagship department with the only PhD program at the time, marked a pivotal moment in my academic career. His support opened doors and broadened horizons, for which I will be eternally grateful. I deeply regret not having had the opportunity to share with him the news of my promotion to the Commonwealth Professorship, an honor I would not have achieved without his guidance.
Beyond the classroom and research, John’s warm heart and genuine care for his students and colleagues were evident in every interaction. He was more than a mentor; he was family. My family, including my father, Rui, who is now 92 years old, and the addition, Jimmy, always looked forward to reading the Christmas card from John and his lovely wife, Sharon. His wisdom, humor, and boundless enthusiasm for learning were contagious, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him.
As we bid farewell to John, we find solace in the knowledge that his legacy lives on in the countless lives he enriched. His memory will forever inspire us to be better scholars, professors, mentors, and friends. We celebrate Dr. John Wesley Gray for a life well-lived and a mentorship that will continue to guide us.
Rest in peace, dear John. You will be profoundly missed, but your spirit will forever be with us.
John was a good friend, mentor and colleague. I met John as a graduate student in 1979. He instilled in me the thirst to learn and more importantly to teach. I later completed my PhD and taught with him at UMass for many years. I enjoyed many great discussions with John as well as lots of laughs. One such discussion convinced me, a hockey player to play tennis with his friends that led to more great enjoyment and memories of John. He will be greatly missed, but not forgotten.
I remember John as a great friend and colleague who is always eager to be of help.
Every time I drive by the house you used to live at South Dartmouth, I was thinking of you. Rest in peace my friend.