COL (Ret) Everette Eugene Gray, JD

NOVEMBER 20, 1944 – DECEMBER 7, 2022

Everette Eugene Gray was born on November 20, 1944 in Kaufman, Texas as the youngest of nine children to Wilmer O. Gray and Ocie B. Gray. He was a very precocious child who loved exploring, learning and figuring things out, and, most of all, playing with his older siblings, all of whom he looked up to. He was affectionately referred to by his mother, father and siblings as “Genie Boy”. He excelled in school, graduating at the top of his class at Lincoln High School in 1963. He then entered the University of Texas at Arlington in September 1963, where he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, serving as First Sergeant during his sophomore year and Company Commander during his senior year. (He was also a member of the Student Government during his sophomore year). He graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington in January 1968 as a Distinguished Military Graduate, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a Regular Army Second Lieutenant in the Chemical Corps, with an initial branch assignment in Air Defense Artillery.

Shortly after graduation from college, he also married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Laverne Jones in May 1968.

Everette’s early assignments included platoon leader and executive officer with Battery A, 4th Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery in Ansbach, Germany and Brigade Chemical Officer, 1st Brigade, 3rd Armored Division (SPEARHEAD) in Kirch Goens, Germany. In November 1970, shortly after the birth of his first daughter, Sharette Kirsten, Everette deployed to Vietnam, where he served as a Company Commander at the U.S. Army Depot Long Binh, South Vietnam. From December 1973 to June 1977, he was a physicist and a Military Intelligence Officer at the U.S. Army Foreign Science and Technology Center in Charlottesville, VA. This assignment was also notable because it was where his middle and youngest daughters, LaGena Kerri and Jone Kala, were born. From June 1977 to June 1979, he was Chief of Data Management for operational tests of a new missile system and a new laser guided artillery warhead at the U.S. Army Operational Test and Evaluation Agency in Falls Church, VA.

Everette’s later assignments included Assistant Professor of Physics at the United States Military Academy at West Point and Division Chemical Officer for the 3rd Armored Division (SPEARHEAD) in Frankfurt, Germany. From July 1987 to July 1989, he commanded the U.S. Army Depot Activity, (a Battalion-level command) in Hermiston, Oregon. He then served as the Chemical Corps Branch Chief at the U.S. Total Army personnel Command in Alexandria, VA.

Everette was promoted to Colonel in October 1990 and was assigned as Deputy Director of the Office of Research and Advanced Technology at the U.S. Department of Energy. He served as Acting Director of the office from April 1992 until his retirement from the military in July 1993. After retirement, he was a Senior Analyst and Program Manager with government contractors in support of the Departments of Energy, Defense, and Homeland Security.

Everette held a Juris Doctor degree from the George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, VA and a Masters in Nuclear Engineering from Iowa State University, Ames, IA. He was a member of the Virginia State Bar, a licensed Patent Attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and a licensed Professional Engineer in both Texas and Virginia. He was an Honor Graduate of the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Basic Course, a Distinguished Graduate from the U.S. Army Chemical Officer Staff Course, an Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Chemical Officer Advanced Course, and a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

He was also honored as a University of Texas at Arlington Distinguished Alumni Honoree in 1998. And, he was the 2010 University of Texas at Arlington College of Engineering Spring Commencement speaker.

He received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, seven Meritorious Service Medals, several service ribbons, the Vietnam Service and Campaign Medals, and a Vietnam unit award.

Despite all his impressive career accomplishments, Everette regarded his greatest joy and pride in life as being a loving and dedicated father and husband — and he was most definitely that. He was an amazing father and husband who loved his family above all and gave everything to ensure their success.

Everette is preceded in death by his parents, Wilmer and Ocie Gray; his brother Wilmer Gray Jr., sister, Merfay Gray Brooks, and sister Olivia Gray Hervey.

He is survived by his wife and high school sweetheart, Sharon Laverne Jones Gray; his three daughters, COL (Ret) (Dr.) Sharette Kirsten Gray (Patrick), CAPT LaGena Kerri Yarbrough, and Jone Kala Bullett, J.D.; two sons-in-law, Robert Patrick and Marcus Bullett; five grandchildren, Benjamin Anderson Patrick, Cameron Gray Yarbrough, Campbell Huang Yarbrough, Amari Kalyn Bullett, and Marcus Johnathan Bullett; four brothers, Brucy Gray, Edward Gray, Maceo Gray, and James Gray; and one sister, Mary Gray Batts, and a host of nieces, nephews, and relatives.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made to W.O. Gray Elementary School, the school named for Everette’s father, Wilmer O. Gray, Sr., at:

https://www.donorschoose.org/

where ‘W.O. Gray Elementary School’ may be typed in the ‘Search topics, teachers, and schools’ entry field — and ‘Balch Springs, Texas’ may be typed in the ‘city, state, or zip’ entry field.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.laurellanddallas.com for the Gray family.