Leroy Gray, age 62 of Knoxville, Tennessee, formerly of Winchester, passed away on Monday, July 20, 2026, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville. He was born on April 15, 1964, in Winchester to Eva Gray. In his youth, Leroy played for Winchester Little League and Franklin County Pee Wee Football and later attended Franklin County High School. In the summers, you could find him swimming or fishing by the lake. He enjoyed going to the skating rink on the weekends and was currently teaching his grandchildren how to skate, until his skates fell apart. He was a heavy equipment operator for various construction firms and previously was working on various projects at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. Leroy enjoyed spending quality time with his family, especially with his sisters even if they were shopping, and would attend Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church, when he was in town visiting. In his spare time and on rainy days, he would watch the First 48 or the latest scary movie. Leroy loved cooking a wonderful breakfast or grilling steaks for family and friends to enjoy. He will be remembered by all who knew him as a hardworking family man, who had a great since of humor and contagious laugh.
Leroy is preceded in death by his mother, Eva Gray; siblings, Thurman Gray, Homer Farris Jr., Floyd Farris Sr., Johnny Farris, and Harold Farris.
Leroy is survived by his wife, Sarah Gray of Florida; children, Ashely Gray of Gadsden, AL and Tyler Summit of Louisville, KY; step children, Craig Carnes, Michael Carnes, and Dee Carnes all of Knoxville, TN; grandchildren, Jeremiah Murray Winchester, TN and Aniyah Baker of Gadsden, AL; siblings, Gloria Smith of Elyria, Ohio, Eddie (Berdeda) Gray of Tullahoma, TN, Marie (Ray) Burks of Belvidere, TN, Denita (Promis) Cabbil of Elyria, Ohio, Jennifer Gray of Cowan, TN, Darlene Gray of Elyria, Ohio, Aaron (Patricia) Farris of Winchester, TN, Robert Farris of Winchester, TN, Thurman (Nancy) Farris of Winchester, TN, and Lula (John) Wooten of Winchester; and sisters-in-law, Ivey Farris of Detroit, Michigan, Willie Mae Farris of Cowan, TN, and Linda Farris of Winchester, TN; heart adopted family the Pettys; and special friend, Lydia Sharp.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 2:00 PM in the Roy B. Watson Chapel of Watson Funeral Home. Watson Funeral Home & Memorial Park 405 Sharp Springs Road, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)967-2345, www.watsonfhtn.com
