Allan B. Gray Jr. was born August 27, 1930 at San Angelo, Texas, the son of Allan Brasted Gray and Dorothy Davidson Gray. He died June 29, 2007 in Flagstaff, Arizona, after losing a brave battle with chondrosarcoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.

He attended schools in California and New Mexico. He received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. from New Mexico State University. He was the first Ph.D. granted at that University. After graduation he was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the army. He served his tour of duty in Korea.

While at NMSU he met and married Rosemary in 1954. Both their children, Sue and Lee were born in Las Cruces, NM. The family moved to Flagstaff in 1961 where Allan was hired as a professor of mathematics at NAU. He was appointed emeritus professor when he retired in 1991.

At NAU he taught all levels of mathematics from freshmen to graduate classes. He was elected chairman of the Southwest Section of Mathematics Association of America (MAA). In 1982 he was elected to the Board of Governors of MAA.

Allan was a member of Federated Community Church where he attended church regularly and served as deacon many years.

He helped with Lee's Cub Scout Den and with the pack. Later he helped with the Elks' Boy Scout Troop under Scoutmaster Robert Jensen. He volunteered in various capacities for Lee's Little League and Senior League teams.

For many years he was a member of the BPOE #499, Elks.

After retirement Allan and Rosemary traveled extensively. When they were in town Allan volunteered at the Flagstaff Family Center, at first he worked every Monday and then twice a month with the Federated Church group. He worked with the NAU Retirees Association Highway Clean-up Crew. In 2002 he started volunteering at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park as in interpreter in the West Wing. He bicycled across Arizona. He enjoyed cross-country skiing, reading and gardening. He enjoyed reading until he lost most of his vision in 1997 and the he enrolled in the federal audio book program and continued to enjoy books by listening to them.

On March 28, 2007 Allan and Rosemary were awarded Volunteer of the year by Arizona State Parks Northwestern region. It was the 50th year celebration of Arizona State Parks. The celebration was at the State Capitol. KNAZ Channel 2 Flagstaff on June 14, 2007 featured Allan and Rosemary for their volunteer work at Riordan Mansion State Historic Park in their Someone to Know segment.


Allan Gray is survived by his wife, Rosemary, a daughter, Sue Foster (William) from Red Oak, Texas, a son, Lee Gray (Jackie) from Mesa, Arizona. He is survived by grandchildren: Allan James (Shanna) Gray, Dustin Gray, J. D. Foster, Rose Ann Foster, Jason, Cody and Ben Fauset. He is survived by great grandchildren: Allan James Gray Jr., Pierce Aidan Gray and Carson Neilon.

He is preceded in death by his parents Allan and Dorothy Gray and sisters, Annabelle Bumgarner and Betty Pagel, brothers-in-law, Raymond Bumgarner, Mickren Mcleod and Warren Pagel.

Memorial services will be at Federated Community Church at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 5, 2007. A reception will follow in Rees Fellowship Hall.

The family suggests memorial gifts to Riordan State Historic Park, Family Food Center, Northland Hospice or charity of your choice.