Mr. Russell L. Gray

May 12, 1940 - January 30, 2018

Russell (Russ) Gray passed away on Tuesday January 30th, 2018 after a long battle with multiple health issues. He is now at peace. Russ was born in Billings, Montana on May 12th, 1940. By the time he was a teenager, he had lived in 38 states, following his father’s aerospace/military support assignments. His Dad’s work led to Russ’s love of science, mathematics, airplanes, and eventually the space program. The family settled in Birmingham, Alabama. Russ attended the University of Alabama and found two lifelong loves: the Alabama Crimson Tide and Sharon Lovell. Russ and Sharon were happily married for 58 years. They had two children, Lisha and Todd, who were both born in Birmingham. In the midst of studying chemical engineering, starting a family, and then beginning a career at Hayes Aircraft, Russ also joined the Marine Corp Reserve. A transfer at Hayes led Russ to move his family to the Titusville / Cocoa area of Florida in the 1960’s. This is where Russ began his unending support of the space program with the Bendix Corporation – eventually working on every manned space program (Mercury through the Shuttle and on to the latest Mars program). Russ was a great father and family man. He loved Sharon and his kids. He loved to fish. He loved being with all of his good friends. He loved to tell stories. The early crazy hectic years of the space program led to many of those great stories Russ would tell throughout his life. Russ and Sharon only became closer as the years went on, through times of great happiness and times of struggle. Together they weathered an accident with their daughter that only strengthened their relationship. Their greatest joy was watching their children become happy adults with their own families. During Russ’s time at Bendix, he met Jack Shye, a man who would become his friend and business partner for almost forty years. Together they resurrected and grew Precision Fabricating & Cleaning Company, Inc. (PFC). In the 1980’s another friend, Bob Kelly, joined the partnership. Precision would become an integral part of all their lives and would support their families from the early 1970’s until today. Russ was a larger-than-life presence with his family, friends, and co-workers throughout his 77 years. He was loved by so many. Everyone seems to have their favorite story about Russ and the influence he had in their personal lives and in their careers. We will miss him so very much. Russ is preceded in death by his daughter, Lisha (family of Art, Gabi, Donald, and Orion), and survived by his wife and his son (family of Todd, Debbie, Taylor, Bailey, and Jamie). Please join us in a celebration of Russ’s life on Thursday, February 8th from 5:00pm to 8:00pm at the Rockledge Country Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Humane Society in Russ’s name. Russ’s dogs brought joy to his life.