Algie Gray

Algie Jerry Gray passed away on December 2, 2024.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, December, 12, 2024 at 12 pm at French Funerals - Wyoming, located on 7121 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109. A graveside service will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery at 1:30 pm, located on 7999 Wyoming Blvd. NE.

Eulogy for
Algie ‘Jerry’ Gray
(by his daughter Andy)

Dad was born July 25th, 1943 in the small town of Philadelphia, Mississippi, and was the only child of Algie ‘Monroe’ and Claudine Gray. We called them MamMaw and Bappy. Bappy wanted to call him Jerry, but MamMaw added Algie. Funnily enough, they both went by their middle names.
Dad moved to Alabama around age 2 after his father had served in the Army. Bappy drove a ‘half-track’ vehicle in WWII in England, France and Czechoslovakia- including the Battle of the Bulge. Dad’s parents then worked in the local paper mill.

Dad graduated from Vigor high school in Pritchard, Alabama in 1961.
The football team had wanted dad to be their Centre as he was big and tall- but dad wanted his hands on the ball so declined to play. He had lovely memories of his time there and did attend some reunions through the years.

June 1961- Dad and mum meet- They met at 20th Century Business College in Mobile, Alabama.
Not exactly love at first sight, mum did think he was cute, but said he had on an ugly sweater! Safe to say she saw past that…
The next summer, Mum moved to Fort Worth, Texas while Dad served at Lackland Air Force base near San Antonio. They wrote to each other often.
Dad proposed in December 1962, whilst sitting in a car right-before going into a friends Christmas party.
They married in June of ‘63 in Whittier, California
While in the Air force- he worked radar in both Oregon and Labrador, Canada. Guarding our coasts from 1962-1966.

Dad was a loving, caring husband and always made sure mum’s car had gas and just took care of things- a proper gentleman and husband.

Late in 1969, Mum saw an ad on tv for the training of air traffic controllers. She told dad and they moved to Houston where he started training. Dad finished his bachelors degree at Prairie View A&M university in 1974 while working at the same time. 

Dad had many jobs over the years, including working in a bomb factory, an electrician at General Dynamics, worked nights at the mall as a shoe salesman and as a bookkeeper and carpet-layer at a carpet company. But his main career was as an air traffic controller for over 35 years.
After retirement, he trained air traffic controllers for 2 years at the University of Oklahoma.

Dad never brought his work home with him, but I remember always hearing about the “guys from work”. Guy from work has a boat, guy from work this…that.
I’ve heard from some of his colleagues that he was part of what they call the ‘Old guard’ of air traffic controllers, where they would keep track of planes with slips of paper and radar rather than modern computers. They are still well-respected by the newer generation and I quote “they could land a plank of wood”.
One controller said of Dad, that he was one of the nicest people he ever worked with. That he brought friendship, laughter and many smiles to everyone. That air traffic controllers are a brotherhood of men and women working towards a common goal. A family if you will.
I love that Dad had that camaraderie.

Dad was often in the yard gardening and building things, while Mum worked hard as well- plus she made it all look pretty. He had a large workbench and tool area, had a go at fixing anything and was a proficient shed builder with Ryan. He coached Eric’s little league teams and always showed up for our sports games, concerts, recitals and science fairs.
As most of you know, he had a huge love of Elvis and his music. Mum and Dad did see him live once in Vegas.

Dad was always trying to perfect playing Boogie Woogie on piano, we think it’s the main reason he took lessons. He also played drums while based in Labrador as well as later in life with the “guys from work”.
He enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys and The Dodgers play and was fond of game shows like The Price is Right and Jeopardy.
He liked Black coffee while reading the paper, coconut candy and making hamburgers for everybody.
He never wanted to wear his glasses and when you asked him if he ever thought about getting a hearing aid he’d just say:“What?”

Dad lived a long, honest, good life. Mum and Dad had an enviable 61 year marriage and that’s not very common these days. Together they raised Ryan, myself (Andy) and Eric, and have 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren… (so far!).
What a legacy.

Dad was a Southern boy at heart and loved by many.