Darrell Duane Gray, 87, died Saturday, December 19th, 2020, in Poway, California. He was preceded in death by his father Merle Richard "Dick" Gray, his mother Jessie Vera Cline, his stepmother, Vesta, and brother Ronald. Darrell is survived by Elma Anne Gray (Dansdill), his loving wife of 62 years and their son, Clint, his brothers Roger (Connie) and Dick (Jackie) and sisters Rita (Elmore), and Reva (Runyon), along with a host of friends.

Born 6 miles northeast of Akron, Colorado, on May 24, 1933, Darrell was the son of Merle and Jessie Vera Gray. Growing up in Akron, Colorado, Darrell graduated from Akron High School in 1951 where he was active in both football and drama. He later went on to a very successful career serving in the United Stated Navy.

Darrell had a 20-year career in the United States Navy with most of his duties in the area of Naval Administration. He made two cruises aboard the U.S.S. Oriskany CV-34. He later served on a utility squadron at Barbers Point, Hawaii and as part of a guiding missile unit at NAS Point Magu, California. He served on a Joint Task Force in Washington, DC and on Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean with atomic testing. While in Tokyo, he served with a Military Assistance Advisory Group in the United States Embassy. He later served on the Strategic Air Command Base in Omaha, Nebraska with the CINCPAC Joint Strategic Target Planning Staff before retiring from the Navy in 1970 at the rank of Chief Petty Officer.

In addition to his career with the United States Navy, Darrell was active in the Masonic Lodge and served as chapter "Dad" to the Robert A. Chandler chapter of the Order of DeMolay in Bellevue, Nebraska. He was very active as a member of the Shrine and was a proud member of the Cycle Patrol as well as an avid supporter of the Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Darrell became a staple across the midwestern heartland spending time "shooting the breeze" with farmers and other fertilizer suppliers during his time working in fertilizer sales with Con Agra's chemical fertilizer division for 31 years.

With his great love for the Navy, Darrell volunteered regularly aboard the U.S.S. Midway CVA 41 in San Diego beginning in August 2004 over the next 16 years, racking up well over 14,000 volunteer hours as a docent and later devoting most of his time to ship restoration as a "docent emeritus". His strong work ethic and genuine likeability earned him a spot in the "President's Circle". Darrell took great pride in making sure that the ship's brass bell was always kept pristine which fondly became known as "Darrell's Bell".

Darrell and Anne felt that their multiple moves throughout the United States (including overseas to Tokyo, Japan) enriched their lives as they made many new friends and always appreciated their new opportunities together.

A memorial service with interment will be held at the Miramar National Cemetery in San Diego. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that memorial gifts be made to the USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101, or online: www.midway.org/donate

Published in Akron News-Reporter on Dec. 25, 2020.