A.A. Gray

A.A. "Bert" Gray, 69, Jamestown, ND died Wednesday, August 21, 2013 at Sanford Health in Fargo, ND.

Bert was born December 25, 1943 in Jamestown, the son of Howard and Leona (Thoms) Gray. His family farmed in Fried Township. They moved to Jamestown in 1955 and due to both of his parents having to work nights he stayed with a "Foster Mother," Lunora Mosher. Bert attended grade school and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1961. Bert married Marty Marsolek October 28, 1966 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Jamestown.

He served in the US Army from May 1961 to February 1965, and was stationed at The Presidio of San Francisco and at Ft. Bliss, El Paso, TX as an Army Firefighter. From 1966 - 1968 he worked as a fire inspection officer for the Boeing Co. on the Minuteman Missile Projects in North Dakota, Wyoming and South Dakota. He played music on the road as a professional musician from 1968 - 1969. Bert joined the Jamestown Fire Dept in 1969 and served for 39 years holding positions as Captain, Fire Marshal, serving 18 years as Fire Chief, retiring in 2008. Bert was a Charter Member of the North Dakota Fire Prevention Association, served as its President 1977-78, Member of the North Dakota Fire Chiefs Association, served as its President 1995-96, and as Secretary/Treasurer from 1998 to 2007, life member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs serving as state Vice President from 1998 to 2005, life member of the North Dakota Firefighters Association, life member of ABATE of North Dakota (American Bikers Aiming Toward Education), serving as District 8 Representative for 6 years, co-founder and a member since 1980 of the Individual Motorcyle Club, member of the National Rife Association, member of the National Arbor Day Foundation, and member of Atonement Lutheran Church. He was active as a musician for more than 50 years with his own bands, The Rounders and the Smoke House band. He also played music with many local musicians and bands and loved every minute of it.

Bert is survived by his wife, Marty, Jamestown; daughter and son-in-law, Candida & Mitch Willey, Fargo, ND; son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy & Nicole Gray, Jamestown; three grandsons, Tyler and Dustyn Willey, Fargo and Samuel Gray, Jamestown; one granddaughter, Alyssa Gray, Jamestown; Uncle Don (Ella) Thoms, Jamestown and Aunt Merna Olson, Lewistown, MT.

He was preceded in death by his parents and foster mother.