Lester Gray, 87, of Lafayette, formerly of Brookston, passed away at 12:09 a.m. Thursday, September 15, 2016 at Creasy Springs of Lafayette.

He was born May 6, 1929 in Brookston to the late Earvin & Myrtle (Jeffries) Gray and was a graduate of Brookston High School. Mr. Gray was an honorably discharged member of the National Guard.

His marriage was to Marjorie Rowe on June 5, 1950 in Lafayette. She preceded him in death on August 18, 1997.

Lester was a truck driver for Commercial Motor Freight for 33 years until the company closed and retired to take care of his wife's health concerns.  

Les was proud of the Brookston Bomber basketball legacy and because of that always loved basketball. He enjoyed following Larry Bird and watching the Indiana Pacers on television. He also rooted for Jeff Gordon in NASCAR, bowled twice a week and played cards weekly with his friends. Les always enjoyed watching his great-grandchildren play sports.

Surviving are his children; Gary (wife: Barbara), Michael, Deb, and Kathy. Les loved spending time with his grandchildren Telly, Scott, Jennifer, Lyndsey, Tommy and Katie and his 10 great-grandchildren.

   Preceding him in death with his wife and parents are four sisters, Effie, Pauline, Geneva and Lorraine and four brothers, Laymon, "Big" Leonard, Charles "Buck" and Earl "Buster" Gray and a special friend and companion Lucille Carter.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday, September 19, 2016 at Hartzler-Clapper Funeral Home of Brookston; Pastor Artem Demetriev of Lafayette Seventh-Day Adventist Church to officiate. Entombment to follow in Tippecanoe Memory Gardens Cemetery, West Lafayette.

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