Earl James Gray, 88 of Savannah, Georgia, entered into his eternal rest March 12, 2016. He died of natural causes at Memorial Health University Medical Center surrounded by his loving family. Earl was born on November 3, 1927 to Luther and Tina Gray in Harrisville, MS. He was preceded in death by his father, Luther Gray, his mother, Tina Gray, his daughter, Kimberly Hope Gray, and his brother, Hurschel Gray. Earl graduated from Mendenhall High School and shortly after he served in the Merchant Marines during World War II. After his service in the marines, Earl managed stores for McCrory’s Corporation in Jackson, MS, Hillsboro, TX, Valdosta, GA, and Savannah, GA.

While managing at McCrory’s (Jackson, MS), he met his beautiful wife, Leona Smith, whom he later married on March 18, 1950. They resided in Jackson, MS, Hillsborough, TX, Corpus Christi, TX, and Valdosta, GA before moving to Savannah in 1958. Earl was awarded manager of the year multiple times and retired from McCrory’s in 1976. Earl started his own business in Savannah GA by founding Crystal Clear Ice Company in 1966. An entrepreneur at heart, Earl also founded Coastal Ice Machines in 1985. He is still fondly remembered for his generosity during Hurricane David in 1979, when he opened up the company’s cold storage free of charge to his community during their time of need. The lives he has touched throughout his life have been enumerable. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, ping-pong, and pulling block ice. He is remembered by his loved ones as a die-hard chocolate fan and the proof was usually in a long line of Hershey’s kisses wrappers strewn about. Earl was a man of genuine faith, and a member of First Baptist Church of the Islands. He was also a member of the Lions club.

Earl is survived by his loving wife of sixty-six years, Leona Gray, his sister Grace Benton (Howard) of Jackson, MS, his three sons and daughters in law, Donald Gray (Carol) of Savannah, GA, Tim Gray (Teri) of Raleigh, NC, and Stephen Gray (Shannon) of Savannah, GA, his six grandchildren, Jeremy Gray (Kelley) of Atlanta, GA, Heather Roomets (Damien) of Redway, CA, Hope Crabtree (Gary) of Raleigh, NC, Caitlyn Lindblad (Kevin) of Guyton, GA, Lauren Tolley (Garth) of Cary, NC, and Sydney Gray of Savannah, Georgia. He is also survived by his six great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 14, 2016 at Fox & Weeks, Islands Chapel. Graveside service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 15, 2016 in the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.,  at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors Islands Chapel 4605 Highway 80 East, Savannah, GA 31410.

Earl was a victim of Alzheimer’s. In lieu of flowers please make donations in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011, or online at alz.org.