John Gregory Gray, age 60, a former resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas and more recently of Stockton, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, August 30, 2022, in Stockton. He was born August 21, 1962, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the son of Thirle Gray and Luella Green Gray. John graduated from high school in Jonesboro and went to college at Ft. Scott Community College on a baseball scholarship. While in Ft. Scott, he met his future wife, Jill Reinecker. John and Jill were married on August 6, 1983, and together they had three daughters, Bailey, Afton and Delane. John worked as a territory manager for Lifetouch National School Studios for many years. Among a number of recognitions during his career in the school photo industry, John was awarded territory manager of the year in 2002 and again in 2005, a distinguished honor that he was proud of.
John was good hearted, engaging, and charismatic. He will be remembered for his outgoing and likeable personality and his ability to make friends with anyone – he didn’t know a stranger. John was an avid sportsman, both as a competitor and a spectator, and he loved the outdoors. He enjoyed golfing, shooting pool, hunting, boating, and camping. He was an enthusiastic fan of the KU Jayhawks, the Kansas City Chiefs, and any team his daughters or grandkids were playing on. John had recently retired to Stockton, Missouri to enjoy life on the lake. He treasured his relationships with his Lifetouch friends and golfing buddies, and above all, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his daughters, Bailey Lyons (Nate), Afton Hyer (Coy) and Delane Godden (Brady) and six grandchildren, Addison, Jhett, Jaxon, Blaise, Lute and True all of Ft. Scott. Also surviving are his former wife, Jill Ruby of Ft. Scott; a sister, Karletta Burrows (Steve) of Jonesboro, Arkansas and numerous, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thirle and Luella Gray.
A celebration of John’s life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, September 8th at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Private burial will take place at a later date in the Swifton Cemetery in Swifton, Arkansas. Memorials are suggested to St. Mary’s Catholic School, where all of his girls went to school, and his grandchildren currently attend. They may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to then online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
