Obituary of Alfred Elmer Gray

A truly extraordinary man that knew the importance of family and friends; his thoughtfulness was an inspiration to many. Born in 1928 to Elmer and Mabel Gray in Hillsboro, Oregon, Alfred was an only child for many years before his beloved brothers Gary and Roger were born. He found a love for art early and painted throughout his life. He often entered his paintings at fairs and local art museums. He was very proud to have one painting, Columbia Gorge, selected to be displayed at the Academic Artists Association, Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1956. Although painting was his passion, he experimented with a variety of artistic mediums and in his later years became a prolific creator of cut coin scrimshaw jewelry. It was this work that he sold at Portland Saturday Market for nearly four decades. He had many friends and acquaintances there and his customers would visit him from around the world. Growing up and living on a small farm in Hillsboro, he farmed and had a great passion for gardening. Always planting and replanting, he loved nature. Just like his garden he cultivated passions in others as well, encouraging curiosity and exposing all those he knew to the vast possibilities that life holds. He continually tried to spark the interest of friends and family by sharing his love of many things whether through a pack of seeds, playing a harmonica, giving a set of paintbrushes or teaching a few guitar chords. Alfred is survived by his daughter, Charlotte Gray, his brothers, Gary and Roger Gray, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many loving nieces, nephews and relatives.