James Thomas Gray, age 76, of Decatur, passed away on Sunday, January 1, 2017, after a brave battle with cancer. Jim was born on September 24, 1940, in Birmingham, Alabama, and was the third of five children born to Miles and Mabel Gray. He graduated from New Brunswick High School in New Jersey, and then served in the United States Navy. After three years of military service, he attended and graduated from the business school at Louisiana State University. Upon graduation, he settled in North Alabama where he lived and worked for the remainder of his life.
Jim had an adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit which led to the founding of several companies and the employment of many citizens of North Alabama over the course of his career. One of his last major contributions was the founding of Priceville Foodland. Friends of his will recall that he often reminisced about his first job, when he was a young boy, as a sacker at his neighborhood grocery store. Owning his own grocery store was the fulfillment of a boyhood dream and the capstone of his impressive career in his business.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Miles and Mabel Gray of Birmingham, as well as his two beloved sisters, Barbara Gray Plummer and Sandra Ann Gray.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Brenda Mann Gray; his loving children, son, Joshua Thomas Gray of Huntsville, and daughters, Kristin Gray Brown (Adam) of Houston, TX, and Laura Leigh Gray McManus (Wilson) of Huntsville. He is also survived by his devoted brothers, George Miles Gray of Birmingham, and William Arthur Gray of Houston, TX, as well as his five grandchildren, Allie, Anna, Clara, Wright, and Molly.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.
The family will host a memorial service to be announced at a later date and time.
