Obituary of George A. Grays

George A. Grays Sidney, NY

George A. Grays, 80, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 7, 2018 at Willow Point Nursing & Rehab Center in Vestal, NY.

He was born on June 19, 1937 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the son of the late Herman F. Grays and Mary (Lupton) Mantey.

He was a graduate of Moravia Central School, Class of 1955, where he played basketball and was a member of the FFA. He married Patricia Ward on September 3, 1960 in Moravia. They were married for 57 years.

Through the years, George worked as a pneumatic driller on the Niagara Power Project at Niagara Falls. He worked several years for contractors splicing telephone cable, including the Minuteman Missile Project in South Dakota. In 1962, the family moved to Sidney where he worked for the local telephone company for 33 years until his retirement. George was later employed by Whitaker & Sons in Sidney and Huff Ice Cream until retiring in 2017.

George was a 46 year member of MacDonald Hose Co. # 2 of the Sidney Fire Department, where he held office and rank of Lieutenant, Captain, Department Trustee and President. He was president of Delaware County Firemen's Association, a member of the Delaware County Republican Committee, a Sidney Town Board member, and President of Sidney FFA Alumni Association. He was also a Delaware County foster parent for many years, and volunteered at Legacy Corps for several years, helping the elderly and providing transportation for them.

George is survived by his loving wife, Pat; his daughters: Alana (Dennis) Bailey, Cheryl (Steve) Boyd, Anita Grays, Lanette (Chris) Williams and Cindy Grays; his sons, Matt and Jerry Grays; grandchildren: Jenny, Denise, Alyssa, Nate, Erin, Evan, Zachary and Ian, 5 great-grandchildren; and step-brothers and step-sister, Albert and Earl Mantey of Moravia and Michael Grays and Christy Grays of Memphis, TN.

Calling hours will be held at C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main St. Sidney, NY on Friday, May 11, 2018 from 11:00am-1:00pm and 5:00-8:00pm concluding with a Fireman's Service. A funeral service for family and close friends will be held on Saturday, May 12th at 11:00am at the funeral chapel, followed by a public Celebration of Life at the Sidney Fireman's Training Center, River St. Sidney beginning at 1:00pm.

Memorial donations in George's memory may be directed to the Delaware County Legacy Corps, Delhi, NY; Delaware County Firemen's Association, Delhi, NY; Sidney Senior Meals; or Sidney Fire Department & Auxiliary.

Share condolences with the family online at www.landersfh.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.