James William Gray

James William Gray, affectionately known as J.W., 78, of Conway died Monday November 21 at Covenant Care at Greenbrier. Born December 14, 1932 at Thornton, he was a son of the late Thelma Files and Paul Gammil Gray. Mr. Gray was retired from the U. S. Army, where he received the rank of Sergeant, a silver star, two bronze stars, and other awards. His military career included three tours of duty in Vietnam. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mavis Sue Gray; a brother; Thomas Gray; a sister, Mary Gray Wilson. Survivors include his children, James Paul Gray and wife Elisha, Julia Ann Beckman and husband Barry, Joyce Ann Rice and husband Clay, Ronny Edward Gray and wife Jackie, and their mother, Gisela J. Gray; grandchildren Jennifer Barnes, Jamie Brown, Jeremy Brown, Aimee Morgan, Rebekah Riggan, Johnathan Scott Roach, Shanna Leigh Hornaday, Cody Gray; several nieces, nephews, and great-grandchildren; wife, Lois Murlene Gray, step-daughters Linda and her husband Robert, and Sue and her husband Kenny; brother Frank Gray; sisters Pauline Etheridge, Louise Gray Yorkavich; and his church family at Point of Grace Baptist Church in Conway. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Benton Funeral Home in Fordyce. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Benton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Erich Albeit officiating. Memorials may be made to Dickens Hospice Care Center, 149 E. Cadron Ridge Rd., Greenbrier, AR 72058; or Arkansas Hospice, 1014 Markham St., Suite 1, Conway, AR 72034. Arrangements by Benton Funeral Home of Fordyce. To sign the online register visit www.bentonfuneralhome.com .