JAMES SCOTT GRAY James Scott Gray or "Grau" as some of his friends liked to call him, passed away in his sleep at 5:45 AM on February 3rd 2016. He was lucky enough to spend the last weeks of his life in his old family home at 24 Puiwa Road in Nuuanu (now the St. Francis Hospice). The family is thankful for the great care he was given there by the nuns and staff. Grau was born on August 20th 1937 in Honolulu to Percy and Polly (Laird) Gray. Following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents, he attended and graduated from Punahou School in 1955. He along with several other good friends from Hawaii, (Sam Cooke, Ernie Wilson, Roy Kitamura, Stan Woolaway, Fred Rice and Peter Baldwin), went on to attend Cornell University, (his father's alma mater), in Ithica, New York, where he majored in hotel and restaurant management. His grandfather, Warren C. Laird, was the General Manager of the Haleiwa Hotel (where Haleiwa Joe's stands today). Some of his best college stories come from his years as a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. When asked what he learned at Cornell, he would often say "How to make a great lemon meringue pie", which he did once for his sons just to prove the point. One of his great travel memories was flying to Havana, Cuba in late December 1959 at the behest of his good friend Sam Cooke. The good times and drinking had made them oblivious to the fact that there was a revolution taking place around them. When they arrived back at the airport to return to school, they found to their chagrin, that all that was left of the airport was a burnt out shell of a building surrounded by soldiers. Luckily they were allowed to board the airplane. While they were sitting on the tarmac, the family of then Cuban President Fulgencio Batista arrived by limousine motorcade to board their plane, which turned out to be the last plane to escape Havana only hours before it was overrun by Fidel Castro. His passion for travel is reflected in the many exotic trips he took around the world including Antarctica, Africa, and Russia and Eastern Europe on the Orient Express. He loved travelling by ship and particularly the ships of the Cunard Line including the Queen Elizabeth or QE2. He loved playing dominoes and cribbage with his family and friends and spending time doing so at his favorite places in Hanalei, Lanikai, and Kona. This tradition has been passed on to his children and virtually every family member owns a koa dominoes/cribbage set made by his close friend, Ron Garten, of Honokaa Hawaii. Thanks to his tutelage we all know how to play dominoes in accordance with "Grandfather's or Hawaii Five-0 rules". His participation in Naval ROTC at Cornell provided him with the opportunity to enlist as an officer in the US Navy. After serving the required term as an active duty officer, he joined the US Naval reserves until he retired with the rank of Commander. Following his father's premature death, he ran the family business, H.S. Gray Company (founded by his Grand Father Harry S. Gray in 1907), for several years as President, until the company's eventual sale and his retirement. He has served as a past president of the Pearl Harbor Rotary Club. The charities he has supported and donated to over the years are too numerous to list. He is survived by son, Ralph S. Gray and daughter in law Cathy (Herring) Gray of Honolulu Hi, Son, William S. Gray and daughter in law, Kimaree (Hicks) Gray, of Ventura CA, grandchildren, Malia (10), Colby(10), Taylor(13), Tyler(19), and Mason(21), his brothers, Richard (Thumper) Gray, of Huntsville AL, Bruce Gray of Lincoln City Oregon, his nieces, Jerry, and Laura, his nephews, Scott, Jeffrey, and Brian (his godson). Friends and family are welcome to attend a celebration of Grau's life at 4PM on March 12th in the Makai Room of the Oahu Country Club. At Grau's very specific direction it will be an open bar. In Lieu of flowers and gifts, the family welcomes donations to the Manoa Heritage Foundation. Friends and family please post pictures, comments, and stories online at www.OahuMortuary.com/James-Gray-12/
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
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