Kenneth Lee Gray, a resident of Grants Pass, Ore., passed away at his home on Feb. 27, 2014. He was 83 years old.

Kenneth was born July 11, 1930, in Medford, Ore., to Joseph and Amy Gray, members of an Oregon pioneer family.

He was the youngest of six children, three girls and three boys. He attended schools in Medford and Kirby, Ore.

Kenneth was going to Nevada with a friend when he met the love of his life, Barbara Loos. They were married on Dec. 22, 1949, in Grants Pass. They had five children, two girls and three boys.

During his life Kenneth worked as a sawmill owner/operator with his father-in-law in Wolf Creek, Ore.; worked in the woods for a woman logger in Eureka, Calif., and with his brother, Zane, at Sebastopol, Calif.; worked at Pullins Mill out of Cave Junction, Ore.; was a ranch foreman in Jenner, Calif.; and trapped, enjoyed scuba diving and operated a fishing boat with his wife out of Fort Bragg, Calif.

He was hired by the California Department of Forestry in 1960, working as a heavy equipment operator at stations in Clearlake Oaks and Cobb in Lake County, Calif. He would later be stationed in Leggett in Mendocino County, Calif.

Since he only had an eighth grade education he attended Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif., and obtained a teaching credential. He then taught fire science and repelling.

He was founder and president of the Konocti Motorcycle Club in Lake County. In appreciation for his work, BMW Motorcycle Co. gave him a Sprint motorcycle to race.

A consortium approached him to run for a California Senate seat, but he decided against it as he didn’t want to move his family to Sacramento.

Kenneth worked for CDF for 20 years, retiring as a captain in 1980. After retiring, he and Barbara moved from Mendocino County to Grants Pass and purchased a small farm. They operated a truck farm for many years and became well known for their produce.

When they finished with the truck farm, Kenneth became a minister. The first couple he married was his great-grandson and wife.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Zella Roff, Dolly Claymier and Ruby Tedrick; brothers, M.C. “Bob” Gray and Zane Gray; sons, Joseph Gray and Terry Gray; and great-granddaughter, Adrianna Ebben.

Ken is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughters, Sue Gray and Mary Stone, both of Grants Pass; son, Kenneth Gray and wife, Carla, of Priest River, Idaho; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Burial will take place at Missouri Flat Cemetery at 1 p.m. Monday, March 3.

Services will follow at 3 p.m. at Redwood Church of Christ, 5180 Redwood Ave. in Grants Pass. Pastor Jeff Prosise will officiate.