Obituary for John Clifton Gray
GRAY, John Clifton
Age 98, of Minneapolis. He was predeceased by his cherished wife of 60 years, Jean Rochel Gray in 2006; his siblings, Margaret, Bill and Paul; his daughter, Catherine Ann Haubert and daughter-in-law, Diane Ashbridge Gray. Survived by thirteen children: Colleen, Susan Armstrong (Donald), John (Sue), Mark (Mary), Michael (Pat Andrews), James, Joseph (Diana), Jean Dunbar (Dave), Bill (Kathleen), Madonna Mochinski (Ray), Mary (Allen Ruppert), Margaret Rorke (Herb) and Thomas (Lisa). John leaves a lasting legacy of 40 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and many friends made along the way.
John was born on March 12, 1921 in north Minneapolis to Clifton and Blanche (Egan) Gray. He graduated from North High in 1939 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. In 1943 he became engaged to Jean Rochel. It would be the romance of their lives. He had first spotted her downtown two years earlier with her identical twin Joan on the streetcar at Glenwood and Seventh, where the Target Center is now located.
Shortly after they became engaged, the Army sent John for further training to Camp Kohler (CA), Camp Crowder (MO) and Camp Sea Girt (NJ) before he shipped out to the South Pacific from San Francisco.
He served as Technical Sergeant in the 3106 Signal Services Platoon on the Russell Islands, Guadalcanal, Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa before being honorably discharged in March, 1946.
He returned to Minneapolis where he married Jean and worked at the Veterans Administration as a Burial Claims clerk. In 1952 he began a 35-year sales career in hard surface floor covering. He joined Congoleum Nairn in 1954 and later Carson, Pirie Scott in 1962 as Sales Manager; retiring in 1987.
In retirement he travelled all over the U.S. and spent time in Canada and Ireland. He served both mass and novena at St. Agnes Catholic Church and volunteered at the Martin Luther Care Center Caregiver Support Group in Bloomington for over sixteen years.
John was an athlete his entire life and enjoyed ice skating, swimming, golf and softball. Although he had a tight fist, he never met a crack he couldn't caulk or good joke he couldn’t tell. He had a special way of wearing the pants in the family, usually high-waisted and with a belt. Thankfully he never wore socks with sandals. He found great joy spending time with his family and in enjoying a highball at sunset.
He was always ready for a song - especially if he could find someone to harmonize with. A skilled card-shark who relished a good skunk at cribbage, he thought Texas Hold ‘Em was for wimps. It’s all in the cut, he would say and boy could he deal. He enjoyed a great party and was always the first to arrive and last to leave, usually with the leftovers in tow and a smile on his face that said I am one lucky man.
Visitation from 4-7 pm on Fri., Dec 20 at Gill Brothers at 5801 Lyndale Ave. So., Minneapolis, MN. Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 am on Sat. Dec. 21st at the of Church of St. Agnes at 535 W Thomas Ave, St Paul, MN 55103. A celebration of John’s unique life will follow at 11:30 am at Ideal Hall, 1494 Dale St. No., St. Paul, MN 55117. In lieu of flowers donations to the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale, P.O. Box 4234, Saint Paul, MN 55104 are preferred.
www.GILLBROTHERS.com
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 612.861.6088
Age 98, of Minneapolis. He was predeceased by his cherished wife of 60 years, Jean Rochel Gray in 2006; his siblings, Margaret, Bill and Paul; his daughter, Catherine Ann Haubert and daughter-in-law, Diane Ashbridge Gray. Survived by thirteen children: Colleen, Susan Armstrong (Donald), John (Sue), Mark (Mary), Michael (Pat Andrews), James, Joseph (Diana), Jean Dunbar (Dave), Bill (Kathleen), Madonna Mochinski (Ray), Mary (Allen Ruppert), Margaret Rorke (Herb) and Thomas (Lisa). John leaves a lasting legacy of 40 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren and many friends made along the way.
John was born on March 12, 1921 in north Minneapolis to Clifton and Blanche (Egan) Gray. He graduated from North High in 1939 and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. In 1943 he became engaged to Jean Rochel. It would be the romance of their lives. He had first spotted her downtown two years earlier with her identical twin Joan on the streetcar at Glenwood and Seventh, where the Target Center is now located.
Shortly after they became engaged, the Army sent John for further training to Camp Kohler (CA), Camp Crowder (MO) and Camp Sea Girt (NJ) before he shipped out to the South Pacific from San Francisco.
He served as Technical Sergeant in the 3106 Signal Services Platoon on the Russell Islands, Guadalcanal, Guam, Saipan, Tinian and Okinawa before being honorably discharged in March, 1946.
He returned to Minneapolis where he married Jean and worked at the Veterans Administration as a Burial Claims clerk. In 1952 he began a 35-year sales career in hard surface floor covering. He joined Congoleum Nairn in 1954 and later Carson, Pirie Scott in 1962 as Sales Manager; retiring in 1987.
In retirement he travelled all over the U.S. and spent time in Canada and Ireland. He served both mass and novena at St. Agnes Catholic Church and volunteered at the Martin Luther Care Center Caregiver Support Group in Bloomington for over sixteen years.
John was an athlete his entire life and enjoyed ice skating, swimming, golf and softball. Although he had a tight fist, he never met a crack he couldn't caulk or good joke he couldn’t tell. He had a special way of wearing the pants in the family, usually high-waisted and with a belt. Thankfully he never wore socks with sandals. He found great joy spending time with his family and in enjoying a highball at sunset.
He was always ready for a song - especially if he could find someone to harmonize with. A skilled card-shark who relished a good skunk at cribbage, he thought Texas Hold ‘Em was for wimps. It’s all in the cut, he would say and boy could he deal. He enjoyed a great party and was always the first to arrive and last to leave, usually with the leftovers in tow and a smile on his face that said I am one lucky man.
Visitation from 4-7 pm on Fri., Dec 20 at Gill Brothers at 5801 Lyndale Ave. So., Minneapolis, MN. Mass of Christian burial at 10:30 am on Sat. Dec. 21st at the of Church of St. Agnes at 535 W Thomas Ave, St Paul, MN 55103. A celebration of John’s unique life will follow at 11:30 am at Ideal Hall, 1494 Dale St. No., St. Paul, MN 55117. In lieu of flowers donations to the Twin Cities Catholic Chorale, P.O. Box 4234, Saint Paul, MN 55104 are preferred.
www.GILLBROTHERS.com
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 612.861.6088