Obituary of Claire McNeil Gray

Claire Gray was born in Marshfield (Coos Bay) the second of three children of Claire McNeil Sr. and Caroline Gray. The following year, the family moved to Coquille where he spent his younger days playing basketball, acting in school plays, serving as student body president, pumping gas and playing trumpet in a dance band. Claire joined the Navy at 17, attending boot camp in San Diego. He then served as a Commodore's chauffeur in Oakland until the war ended. Always a hard and committed worker, Claire rose through the ranks from grocery sales in Coquille to General Sales Manager at Consolidated Freightways in Portland. In 1969, he helped start a leasing company, Trans-Pacific Leasing, which he sold to GranTree Leasing where he served as President. He retired from Benjamin Franklin Leasing in 1992. While attending the University of Oregon, he met Dorothy Marie Darkins who became his much-loved wife of 64 years. Together, in Milwaukie, they raised their three children, Diane, Steven and Julie. A devoted father, he looked forward to their games and school activities. Claire often traveled for work, but most enjoyed being at home with his family and at their cabin at Black Butte Ranch. He and Dorothy loved to play golf, attend Mariner games and their annual sojourn in Palm Springs. They frequently traveled in the U.S. and well-remembered a special European trip aboard the Concorde. Relationships were important to Claire. He was a generous man who would do anything for a friend, and he had many, including those where they later lived in Charbonneau that he helped care for in their declining years. He loved music, his church, a walk through the neighborhood and, of course, a good joke! Claire dealt with 15 years of treatment for melanoma and was at home with his family when, in the end, it quickly took him. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by wife, Dorothy; daughters, Diane (Chris Mueller), Julie (Greg Wolleck); son, Steve (Marylu Gray); and grandchildren, Emily (Steve) Forbes, Carly (Sergio) Lima, Timothy Gray and Madisen Wolleck. You are welcome to join Dorothy and the family in celebrating his well-lived life Saturday, Oct. 13 at 3 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Wilsonville (just off Charbonneau exit). Carpooling encouraged. Donations may be made in Claire's name to St. Francis Church. Service Information