CAPT Roy R Grayson, USN (Retired), U. S. Naval Academy class of ‘49, passed away in Lamar, Missouri on January 27, 2014 from pneumonia, at age 88. Roy was born in N. Little Rock on December 30, 1925. Preceding him in death are: his wife of 46 years, Carolyn Howard, and his second wife of 10 years, Mary Lester; his brother, Clyde Grayson, and his sister, Vivian Carr. Roy’s hobbies were sailing, travel, being helpful to his charities and his church, and the Gideons International group donating Bibles.
Roy is survived by many loved ones. First, his eight children: David Grayson with wife Donna, Glenside,PA, Cathy Cook, Ft. Smith, AR, Steve Grayson with wife Angie, Columbia, SC, Sue Pumphrey with husband Tom, USNA ’76, Huntsville, AL, Anne Mitchell, Lockwood, MO, Linda Eagan, Garden City, GA, Chuck Grayson, High Point, NC, and James R Grayson with wife Cheri, Greenfield, MO. Of Roy’s eight kids, six are veterans. He was chosen to be the swearing in officer by me, his daughter. We want to pass along to shipmates that he tried valiantly to teach us to sail, he gave us white glove inspections following our weekly cleaning chores, and he took us frequently to USNA to watch sporting events.
Second, Roy’s grandchildren: five are veterans, AF officer Matt Cook OK, Jerry Mitchell IV USMA class of ‘04 (Ft Benning). Dan Grayson and Chris Pumphrey are Navy veterans, and Shelby Dawes is an E-7 in the USAF on active duty. Other grandchildren are Shawn Feagans, MD, Lisa Rasche, AR, Mike Grayson, NY, Monty Mitchell, MO, Shannon Mitchell, NH, Cody Mitchell, FL, Erin Howell, GA, and Kelly Piazza, TN. Roy has many great-grandchildren and will be sorely missed by all of them. Here is Roy with Hayley Howell, his first great grandchild.
Thirdly, Roy is survived by: Helen Helt, OK, Monty and June Howard, OK, Phillip Grayson, TX, Nancy Kay Forrester, TX, Bud and Anna Jo Carr, TX and their five kids and families, Ruth Brown, Harry and Carol Hix, Ken and Nelda Helt, Monty & Steve Howard, MD, Lisa Buchanan, LA, Carolyn Coombs, OK, Mary Howard, CA, Janie Howard, Jeff Howard, Monty Howard.
Roy ran a tight ship and will be missed. Fair winds and following seas.
by Sue Pumphrey.
A memorial service will be anounced at a later date.
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