James Ronald “Ron” Gray, age 85 of Nashville, Ark., passed away on Oct. 23, 2017 in Nashville, Ark. He was born on Sept. 9, 1932 in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of the late Jesse James Gray and Sylvia Olene Ingram Gray.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 46 years, Nyda Elizabeth Metheny Gray; his daughter, Rhonda Ann Gray Bannister and her husband Randy; grandchildren Colby Rece Bannister and Malyn Elizabeth Bannister, all of Fort Worth, Texas. Survived also by his sister, Ann Bratcher; Niece and Nephew of Whitehouse, Texas, and childhood best friend, Donald Ramsey of Vernon, Texas.
Ron worked in his Dad’s grocery store from age 14-21. He then served in the Navy for 2 years active duty and 2 years in the Reserves.
He managed a Meat Market, did commercial fishing, drove a delivery truck for Continental Baking Co. and worked for the U.S. Postal Service. He retired after 25 years as a U.S.D.A. Meat and Poultry Inspector at age 56 and began to raise broiler chickens and cattle.
Ron was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Nashville, Arkansas, and accepted Christ as his Savior at age 12 at Bonnie Brae Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas. He taught a boys Sunday School at Travis Avenue Baptist in Fort Worth.
Ron loved raising cattle and trot line fishing, with his biggest catch weighing 65 lbs and he was proud of it!
His daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren were the joy of his life. He made each life he touched beautiful, especially for his wife Nyda.
Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. until service time on Thursday, Oct. 26, at the First Baptist Church in Nashville.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at First Baptist Church in Nashville with Bro. David Blase and Bro. Kevin Sartin officiating. Burial will follow in Restland Memorial Park under the direction of Latimer Funeral Home in Nashville.
Family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to First Baptist Church Nashville Children’s Ministry.
You may send an online sympathy message at www.latimerfuneralhome.com.
