Obituary: Gray, Edmund Wesley
Age 86
Ed was born on November 9, 1928 in Colville, the only son of Wesley Harold and Helen Corridan Gray.
He graduated from Colville High School in 1946 and following undergraduate studies at Gonzaga University he moved on to medical school at the University of Washington from October 3, 1949 to June 13, 1953.
A week later on June 20th Ed married the love of his life, Patricia Jane Bloomfield (61 years) in Crosby Minnesota.
On July 1st he began his medical internship at Indianapolis General Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana and concurrently served time in the Air Force Medical Corp, earning the rank of Captain.
First son, Tim (born in 1955) joined the family while Ed was serving at Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, California.
He finished his military service at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane in September of 1956 and returned to Colville to pick-up his father’s medical practice.
Daughter Sally (born in 1957) and son Terry (born in 1960) entered the family and Ed set about in a new practice with Doctors Robert Goetter and William Doyle.
Through the 60’s and 70’s he was very active in Colville civic affairs such as the Colville Elks, Benchwarmers, Chamber of Commerce and Mount Carmel Hospital Foundation.
In 1960, Colville Mayor Phil Sax hired him for $10 a month to be the City of Colville Health Officer and thus began his role in Public Health, especially rural public health.
By the late 1970’s Ed had played a significant role in several healthcare related fields.
His private practice banded together with most of the other city physicians to form the Northeast Washington Medical Group, which has grown into a significant medical service in the Colville community.
His city public health position grew into the Northeast Tri-County Health District, which serves Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens County.
He served as the Medical Officer there until his 84th birthday in 2012.
Ed was also very active at State and National levels about Rural Medical Care and Public Health.
He advanced through the Washington State Medical Association leadership to President in the days of tort reform, followed that with at run for 7th District State Legislature (his only known failure).
He was a player in the first State Basic Health Insurance program and has been recognized by Gonzaga University, the University of Washington, Providence Health Systems and the Nathan Davis Foundation for his vision, leadership and dedication to others.
He served in many roles at Mount Carmel Hospital and it’s progression into Providence Health Services and even spent a few years on the Colville City Council.
In his limited spare time he enjoyed the game of golf, playing bridge, gin or cribbage or discussing world affairs, politics, education or any other topic of the day over a drink or a glass of wine or a soak in the hot tub and tinkering on projects large and small at home or at the lake.
All this from a quiet humble man, who loved his wife Jane for over 60 years, raised three successful children and enjoyed his family time at their Christina Lake cabin especially when his five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren were there.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents Wesley and Helen Gray.
Ed is survived by his wife Jane, his son Tim (Roween) Gray of Colville, WA and their children, Kayla (Owen) Nestor and Kelsey Gray; daughter, Sally (Bill) Juzeler of Prosser, WA and their children, Megan and Hannah Juzeler; son Terry (Sue) Gray of Sammamish, WA and their son, Andrew Gray; great granddaughter Rhaya Nestor and great grandson Gray Nestor.
Ed was also known as “grandpa” to extended family members Loween, Chris and Erica Lent and as a mentor to Mary Selecky, Ron Rehn and others.
The Funeral Mass for Dr. Edmund “Ed” W. Gray will begin at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 23, 2014 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Colville, WA with cremation to follow.
Father Tyler Smedley will celebrate the Mass.
Memorial contributions may be given to either the Dominion Meadows Athletic Association or Mt Carmel Hospital Auxiliary.
Please visit the on-line memorial and sign the guestbook at www.danekasfuneralchapel.com.
Danekas Funeral Chapel & Crematory, 155 W. First Ave., Colville, WA is entrusted with the arrangements.