Clarence Earl Gray

Clarence “Earl” Gray passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, February 26, 2022 at Compass Park in Franklin. He was a resident of Morgantown.

Earl was born March 17, 1935 to Clarence Gray and Hildred (Lottich) Gray in Indianapolis. He played many sports while at Beech Grove High School where he also met the love of his life. Earl married Sylvia (Prather) Gray on May 1, 1955. Together they began to build their plumbing business from their home in Beech Grove. There were subsequent moves to Southport and Greenwood with the business still in their home. In July 1979 they moved the business out of their home to their new building in Bargersville. What began as a one-person business became a family business with all four of their children involved in the business. The third and fourth generations also work in the family business.

Earl was involved in many organizations over the years. He was a member of the Greater Indianapolis Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors, where he held many offices through the Presidency. Earl was on the Board of Directors for the Indiana State Association of the PHCC. He was also a member of the Beech Grove Masonic Lodge #694, Scottish Rite and Murat Shrine. As a member of the Morgantown United Methodist Church, he and Sylvia had their very specific pew each Sunday that they sat in, when able to attend.

Earl and Sylvia were fortunate to be able to travel to many places with their many friends. Later in life, his grandchildren became the love of his life and he became their biggest fans while attending their tennis matches, basketball, football, baseball and choir concerts.

Earl was preceded in death by his wife in December 2020. Survivors include his daughters, Jeri Ann (Bruce) Mitchell and Kathi Gray (Kathy Roberts); sons, Mike (Carrie) Gray and Mark (Cindy) Gray; grandchildren Michelle (John) Bennett, Brian (Amanda) Mitchell, Joshua (Miranda) Gray, Justin (Ashlie) Gray, Michaela (Nick) Cheek, Katie Gray, Hannah Gray, Cody (Abby) Roberts, Dakota (Haley) Roberts, Luke Roberts, McKenna Roberts and Noah Roberts; eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandson. Earl is also survived by his sisters, Margaret Wheatley and Shirley Cantrell. 

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Georgia Ayres, Hazel Phillips and Jessie Glover. 

The Rev. Burt Brock and Pastor Ann Spahr will conduct a funeral service on Friday at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church of Morgantown, 2717 S. Morgantown Road in Morgantown. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the church and from 10 a.m. until service time on Friday. A Masonic Service will be conducted by the Beech Grove Masonic Lodge on Thursday at 7:45 p.m. Burial will be at East Hill Cemetery in Morgantown. 

Memorial contributions may be sent in honor of Earl to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, FL  33607 or the Morgantown United Methodist Church Trustee, PO Box 226, Morgantown, IN  46160. 

Expressions of caring and kindness can be made to the Gray family at meredith-clark.com.

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