Roy Cooper Gray, Jr., Major General (Ret. Army), passed away on September 9, 2017.

He was born on June 4, 1928, the son of the late Roy Cooper Gray, Sr. and Alice Kerr Hood Gray of Fleming County, Kentucky.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Jean Wright Gray, his daughter, Susan Louise Gray, and his sons, Roy Cooper Gray, III (Anne), and Steven Wright Gray (Letitia), and two grandchildren, Caroline Wright Gray and Cooper Boggess Gray. Roy is preceded in death by two sisters, Elizabeth Ann "Liz" Thomas and Jane Gray Porter, and three brothers, Charles Hood Gray, Richard Patton Gray, and Roger Owens Gray. Surviving sisters are Lynn Gray Burke (Gerald), Martha Curtis Gray Prewitt, Virginia Gray Forman (Bill), and Amanda Sue Gray Steffin. He is also survived by two brothers, James Everett "Pete" Gray (Sherry) and John Fielding Gray. In addition are some eighty nieces and nephews.

A Korean War veteran, Mr. Gray was drafted in 1950, commissioned 2nd Lt. Oct. 1951, completed Airborne Tng. Dec. 1951, arrived in Korea Aug. 1952, assigned H Company (HvyWpns) 2nd Bri., 279th Inf. Regt., 45th Division, served as Platoon Ldr., then as Company Commander. Awards included CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) and Bronze Star. He was released from active duty in Oct. 1953 and then joined the 100th Division Reserve until transferring to the Alabama National Guard in Sept. 1957. He served in the Alabama Guard for seven years which included one year of active duty during the Berlin Crisis. After completing graduate work at Auburn University and receiving his PhD. in Animal Husbandry, in 1964 he returned to Kentucky, transferring back to the 100th Division and joining the University of Kentucky staff.At the University of Kentucky, he was Beef Cattle Specialist for seven years in the Animal Husbandry Dept.; he left U.K. in 1970 to form a cattle maintenance company, Modern Cattle Management; fifteen years later he returned to U.K. and joined the Cooperative Extension Administration, where he remained for twelve years until retiring in 1997. He served as State ASCS Chairman, 1981-1985, was a lifetime member of the Kentucky Beef Cattle Assn., U.K. College of Agriculture Alumni Assn. and U.K. Alumni Assn. A strong believer in national security, he was a life member of the Association Of The Century, Reserve Officers Assn., National VFW, American Legion (Flemingsburg, KY chapter), and the Army War College, and he was a dedicated supporter of the Hospitalized Veterans Program. In the 100th Division he served as Regt. S-3, Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander, Div. G-3, and finally as Division Commander, 100th, retiring a Major General in 1987.

Visitation will be held 4-7 pm Thurs., Sept. 14 at Kerr Brothers Funeral Home, Harrodsburg Rd.

A private graveside service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions are suggested to USA Cares, 562 N. Dixie Blvd., Radcliff, KY 40160.