December 26, 1951 – April 2, 2023
BUXTON — Ray Dale Gray, Jr., age 71, of Buxton, NC died on April 2, 2023. Ray was the son of the late Ray Dale Gray, Sr., and Vandetta Midgett Gray. He was also preceded in death by his younger brother, William Landry Gray.
Ray was a lifelong educator, serving as a tennis coach, science teacher, assistant principal, and elementary school principal on his native island of Hatteras. He was an avid surfer, and most enjoyed sessions on the north side of the first jetty in Buxton, eponymously named “Ray’s Rights.” Ray’s proudest achievement was helping support and encourage hundreds of Hatteras Island youth through education and sport.
Ray is survived by his son, Alex Dale Lemonde Gray (Kelsey); the mother of his son, Claudette Lemonde-Gray; his partner, Paulette Boyden, and her two sons, Thomas Santangelo (Kayla, daughters Maggie and Millie) and Daniel Santangelo; his sister Rauna Gray Conner (Johnny); nieces and nephews include Angela Conner Tawes (Neil and family), John Conner III (Dara and family), Rebecca Conner Salyers (Travis and family), Marsha Sawyer Holmes (Jim), Max Dale Gray, Micah Landry Gray, Drake Feruzzi (Liz and family), and Kyler Feruzzi.
A funeral service will be held at the Buxton Family Life Center across from the Secondary School on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 1 p.m. ET. Service to be followed by a memorial “paddle out” at the first jetty (former lighthouse location) in Buxton at 2:30 p.m. ET.
The Ray Gray, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund is being established via the Outer Banks Community Foundation to benefit college-bound Hatteras Island youth. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to the scholarship fund at obcf.org/ray-gray-jr-memorial-scholarship.
Twiford Funeral Homes, Outer Banks is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences and memories may be shared at www.TwifordFH.com.
