Joel Harrison “Pink Rat” Gray, age 80, of Summertown, TN passed away Thursday, January 04, 2024, at Southern TN Regional Health System in Lawrenceburg, TN. He was a native of Lawrence County, TN, and a member of Whispering Hills Free Church of God. Mr. Gray served his country honorably in the U.S. Army from 1964-1967. He was an avid truck driver for 40 plus years. He loved to golf, mow his yard, and play with his grandkids. He always had a story to tell and loved to spend time with his church and church family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Harrison and Dora Katherine Foster Gray; one daughter, Melinda Renee Ottis; one brother, David Gray; and three sisters, Patricia Henderson, Linda Nell Henderson, and Betty Jewel Wilkerson.
He is survived by his wife of 36 years, Katherine Ann Gray of Summertown, TN; one daughter, Sharon Wilson of Summertown, TN; one son, Phillip Wilson (Holly) of Summertown, TN; seven grandchildren, Ashley Giles (John), Brooke Ditto (Daniel), Reese Wilson, Lincoln Wilson, Beckham Wilson, all of Summertown, TN, Zachary Ray, and Christopher Azcarate; four great-grandchildren, Oakland Ditto, Wilson Giles, Alister Ray, and Everson Ray; special nieces, Tiffany Lemay and son, Conner Bell and Kayla Lemay, all of Columbia, TN; his special pet, Ziva; special friend, Dewayne Wilkerson Dickson; two sisters, Alvie Pickford of Lawrenceburg, TN, and Beverly Sue Novogurski (Rich) of Hohenwald, TN; several nieces and nephews. Those serving as pallbearers are Darrell Dean, John Giles, Lawrence Hull, Jason Potts, P. D. Runions, Dewayne Wilkerson, Jimmy Lemay, and Darrell Dean, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandsons and great-grandsons.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and staff at Southern Tennessee Regional Health System and Compassus Hospice, especially Nurse Practitioner, Dawn Victory and Nurse, Amanda Brown.
Arrangements are being handled by Neal Funeral Home, 231 N. Military Avenue, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. The family will receive friends starting at 11:00 AM on Sunday, January 07, 2024, at Whispering Hills Free Church of God. Funeral services will be conducted at Whispering Hills Free Church of God at 3:00 PM Monday, January 08, 2024, with Terry Potts and Bill Webb officiating. Interment will follow at Brace Cemetery in Lawrence County, TN, with full military honors.
