Kenneth Gray: ‘A great listener and had empathy for everyone he met’

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Our dear father, Kenneth Gray, passed December 23, 2023 in Windsor, CA in his home at the Windsor Veteran’s Village. This was his final wish, as he was very proud of his new apartment in the Veteran’s Village where his neighbors lovingly called him “Mayor”. Dad had spent the last two years in Windsor making a new life for himself, after spending almost 50 years living and working in Fortuna. 

He was born February 20, 1943 in Massachusetts. He made his way to California in 1967 after his time in the Navy. His mother had just passed away, and his father died in WWII. Dad and his brother came to California to go to school after they were discharged from the military. Dad met mom, and the rest is history. They left Santa Monica, CA and moved to Fortuna in 1977 with two young girls. Life was an adventure.

You may have known our father. He worked for many years in the late 70’s and 80’s working at Western Auto in Fortuna. You may have known him from his wheeling and dealing days at the Flea Market in Eureka. You have known him from his craft fair days selling crafts that he helped our mother with. If you met him, then you knew he was a great listener and had empathy for everyone he met. 

At age 78, Dad came to live in Windsor, CA. He found a new life at the Windsor Veteran’s Village where his neighbors lovingly called him “Mayor”. Dad’s final chapter was a busy one. He joined a coffee group, enjoyed dancing at the Town Green, sponsored a few Veteran’s in AA, organized a weekly food drive, and encouraged the Town of Windsor to provide a bus stop at the Village for the Veterans. He was always thinking of their needs, and always had some small project that he was working on. He was very proud of his time in the Navy. He encouraged every Veteran he met to be proud of their service. For Dad, the Veteran’s Village and Veteran’s Services were his second family. 

Dad is survived by his daughters, Colleen Gray Dunaway and Ginger Gray Weber and Kylie Hansen Vandenburge. He was very proud of his daughters, and they were proud of him. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Emmeline and Olivia Dunaway and Kira and Hayden Weber. They each have fond memories of their times spent with him. Whether as young children or as young adults. Both of his son-in-laws Paul Dunaway and Mike Weber lost a friend when they lost Dad. Dad is also survived by his wife, Jeannie Gray. 

We miss him. He was extremely proud of his daughters and his grandchildren. We are equally proud of him, as he started a new chapter at 78 in a new town on his own. He really thrived in Windsor and is greatly missed by his family and his friends in Windsor.