James John Gray

July 16, 1925 - April 17, 2007

James John Gray, 81, passed away on Tuesday, April 17, 2007. He died peacefully surrounded by his beloved wife and children.

Jim was born in San Mateo, CA, and attended San Mateo High School where he still holds a record in Track. He graduated from USC, where he was affiliated with Sigma Chi Fraternity, and was a Trojan through and through. His college career was interrupted by a tour of duty in the Navy aboard the USS Bismarck Sea. He was a veteran of World War II. Jim was honorably discharged after the sinking of his ship while in action in the Pacific. He was one of only some very few survivors rescued from shark infested waters shortly after the bombing of his ship.

Jim married the love of his life, Joan, in 1948. Together they moved to Newport Beach in 1953 where they settled on Lido Isle and raised their family. Jim is survived by his wife, Joan, daughter, Jamie Gray Lopez, sons, Mitchell Gray, James Gray and Patrick Gray, son-in-law, Ramon Lopez, daughters-in-law, Lisa Gray and Cynthia Gray, 16 grandchildren, Jimmie Lopez, Matthew Lopez, Scott Lopez, Mitch Gray, Ryan Gray, Shane Gray, Katie Lopez, James Gray, Dylan Gray, Brent Gray, Justin Gray, Kyle Gray, Garit Gray, Marisa Gray, Kelli Gray and Jillian Gray, and one great-grandchild, James Thomas (J.T.) Lopez.

Jim was an avid tennis player. He played in numerous tournaments over the years, including on Lido Isle, at the Balboa Bay Club and Adoption Guild, before taking up golf and becoming a member of the Newport Beach Country Club, where he served a stint on the Board. He was most proud of having attained a single digit handicap shortly after his retirement from a career in lithography when he could devote time to what became one of his great passions. Jim was an active member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church on the Peninsula, serving for many years as an usher. Despite his Naval experience and the time he spent floating in the cold Pacific Ocean before his rescue, Jim loved all boating activities, both at his family’s long-time vacation home in Bass Lake and trips to Catalina and the Pacific Northwest on the family’s boat, and ul! timately a family cruise to Alaska 2 summers ago.

Jim will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 20, at Pacific View Mortuary, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 21, at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 1441 W. Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach. Friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of Jim’s life in the Parish Hall immediately following the ceremony.