Obituary of Denis Reginald Gray

Encompassing the life of Denis Gray within a few words hardly covers the intricate details that begin with his birth in Cornbrook, UK, on November 27, 1930. Denis’s legacy of a life well lived is embodied through his travels from Markington, a small village in the Yorkshire Dales of England, to the endearing community of Boswell, BC.  He passed away peacefully from complications due to cancer at the Creston Valley Hospital on Thursday, November 18, 2021, with his life’s partner of 69 years, Joan, by his side. They had married in Markington on April 14, 1952, and then resettled in Western Canada in 1959. Denis enjoyed two careers firstly as foreman at the Cross a7 Ranch and then as Foreman for the town of Nanton, both of which Denis demonstrated dedicated service, winning the 1985 Provincial Operator of the Year for Alberta Water & Wastewater. Retirement for Denis beckoned after a series of medical concerns; and, with a flip of a coin, he and Joan created their final home together in Boswell where he happily immersed himself in the community. Throughout his careers and retirement, Denis spiced life with a passion for storytelling and embraced a love for golf, fishing, and travel. 

Denis’s life experiences together with his siblings of Peter (1928-2021), Gordon, Susan, and Duncan plus the love of his wife, Joan, helped shape the man he became, with his natural talent for engineering creations and solutions for any situation or challenge.

To honour Denis, a memorial service will be held at The Boswell Memorial Hall on Saturday, November 27, at 2:00 pm. In his memory, one may consider making a donation to the Creston Valley Hospital, Bag 3000, Creston, BC V0B 1G0 or the Canadian Cancer Society, Suite 500 - 55 St Clair Ave W., Toronto, ON M4V 2Y7.