ADA-Services for William Elijah "Bill" Gray, 67, of Ada, are 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Reaper Baptist Church in Ada, Rev. R. G. McGee will officiate. Burial will follow at Rosedale Cemetery. Family and friends may call at Criswell Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday.
Mr. Gray died Monday, November 18, 2013 in Oklahoma City. He was born June 12, 1946 in Ada, Oklahoma to Edgar and Naomi Triplett Gray. William received his early childhood education at Napier School and graduated from Byng High School in 1964. Following graduation, Bill served with the U. S. Marines. He retired from the National Guard with the rank of Master Sergeant in 2003.
He married Barbara Ann Watson on October 24, 1969. She preceded him in death on September 9, 2001. As a child, Bill was a member of Ada Church of God in Christ, later as an adult, he became a member of Reaper Baptist Church where he served as an Associate Minister under the guidance of Rev. Freddie Clark. Bill and his wife Barbara worked together with the Youth Department and the Music Department.
Bill joined the Ada Fire Department as a firefighter on December 1, 1969 and was appointed Fire Chief on May 29, 1979. He served the city of Ada in this capacity until he retired on November 30, 1990. After his retirement from the Ada Fire Department, Bill ran for a seat on the Ada City Council and also served as Mayor. Bill was an entrepreneur over the years including a restaurant, a second-hand store, wrecker service and Bargain World Television Home Shopping Franchise in Ada and Altus. He was a carpenter and plumber after retiring from public office, and was employed by several assisted living centers in the Oklahoma City area and at a private prison in Holdenville.
He married Laurie Rooney Brandt on October 4, 2002 in Lawton. They lived for several years in Lawton before moving to Edmond.
Survivors include his wife, Laurie Gray, of the home; four sons, Aron Gray and wife Krista, Ada, LaDon Carrington of Tecumseh, William "Keebie" Gray and wife Christy of Sulphur, and Michael Brandt and wife Jaime of Oklahoma City; a daughter, Margie Lynn Gray of Oklahoma City; four brothers, Elder Edgar Gray, Jr. and wife Gladene of Seattle, WA, Elder Tollie Gray and wife Maretha of Oklahoma City, Harvey Gray and wife Ruthie of Ada, and Henry Gray of Vernon, TX; two sisters, Eva Gordon, San Francisco, CA and Martha Collins of Hayward, CA; brothers-in-law, Pat Rooney and John Rooney and wife Sandra of Lawton; his grandchildren, Zachary Gray, Dembri Weeks, McKenah Jones, Bryce Carrington, Ethan Carrington, Mariah Nicole Gray, Asar Elijah Anderson, Yeshua Michea Anderson, Jayden Gray, Christian Gray, Noah Gray, Jamison Carrington, Aris Brandt, William Makhi Gray; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 32 years, Barbara Watson Gray; his grandparents; sisters, Clemmie Gray Williams and Ruth Gray Lewis; and a granddaughter, Braxtin Ann Gray.
Bearers will be Aron Gray, Zachary Gray, Rodney K. Lewis, LaDon Carrington, Michael Brandt Shawn Collins, William Michael Gray, Christian Gray and Sanford Collins. Honorary bearers will be Elder Edgar Gray Jr., Elder Tollie Gray, Pat Rooney, Harvey S. Gray, Henry I. Gray, John Rooney and Kirk Blue. Flower bearers will be Christy Hilliard, Krista Weeks, Jaime Brandt, Freda Clark, Sharon Blue, nieces and cousins and Reaper Baptist Church Family. Honorary flower bearers will be Margie Lynn Gray, Jayden Gray, Mariah Gray, Aris Brandt, McKenah Jones and Dembri Weeks.
Obituaries may be viewed and online condolences sent to criswellfh.com.

Criswell Funeral Home, Ada