Lieutenant Colonel Gary Scott Gray, age 57 of Ruston, LA, passed away November 16, 2021, after a month long battle with pneumonia.  He had also been undergoing chemotherapy treatments for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia since the summer of 2020.

Scott was born in Monroe, LA to Ernest and Ruth Gray.  He grew up in Monroe, LA and graduated from Wossman High School in 1981.  He earned his Bachelor Degree in Human Resource Management from Louisiana Tech University in 1995.

In May of 1984, Scott enlisted in the United States Army.  After serving on active duty for 4 years, he returned home to Louisiana where he enlisted in the Louisiana Army National Guard.  He served an additional 26 years in the Louisiana Army National Guard for a total of 30 years of military service.  He served 8 years as an enlisted soldier achieving the rank of Sergeant.  He served the remaining 22 years as a commissioned officer achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.   During his military career, he served his first 15 years with several different Engineering units.  He served for 2 years as an instructor at the Louisiana Army National Guard Officer Candidate School.  For 3 years he was stationed in Belize as the State Partnership Coordinator for the Louisiana Army National Guard.  His last 10 years of service he was assigned to the Logistics branch of the Louisiana Army National Guard.

While serving in the Louisiana Army National Guard, he was deployed three times into a combat zone.  His first deployment was during Desert Storm (1990-1991), his second deployment was during Operation Iraqi Freedom (2004-2005), and his third deployment was in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn (2010).

Scott retired from the Louisiana Army National Guard in November 2014.  After retirement, he continued to serve the military as a JROTC Senior Instructor.  His first JROTC assignment was at Dyer County High School in Newbern, TN, and his second JROTC assignment was at El Dorado High School in El Dorado, Arkansas.   As a JROTC instructor his goal was to help the JROTC Cadets become leaders by teaching them leadership skills, teamwork skills, and helping them develop self-esteem and self-discipline.

Scott also worked for Willamette Industries from 1988 to 1997 where he began as machine operator and eventually became a shift supervisor.  His second full time civilian job was working as a Territory Manager for Blue Bell Creameries from 1997 to 1999.  Even though he only worked for Blue Bell for two years, he was very dedicated to the Blue Bell ice cream brand and company.  He always wanted to check out the ice cream displays in every store he went into to see if the Blue Bell displays were properly set up and maintained.

Scott was a very kindhearted person who enjoyed helping other people, drinking lots of coffee, telling riddles and corny “Dad” jokes, playing games, and spending time with his family, friends, and dogs.  He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him and loved him.

He is survived by his wife Ame of Ruston LA, his son Christopher Gray (Amber) of Grove,OK, his eldest daughter Katie Richardson (Chris) of Shreveport, LA, and his youngest daughter Mackenzie Gray of Ruston, LA.  He is survived by his five grandchildren, Alysen Gray, Hudson Gray , Maelynn Richardson, Lillygrace Richardson, and Jackson Richardson.  His is also survived by his sister Carolyn Gray Carter of Winnfield, LA, two nephews Tim Bond and Matt Bond and two nieces Holly Bond and Amy Grant Adams as well as multiple great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest B Gray and Ruth Hux Gray and his Father in Law Donald E Jones.

Funeral services for LTC Gary Scott Gray will be held Saturday, November 20, 2021 at 10 am in the Chapel at Temple Baptist Church in Ruston, LA. Dr. Reggie Bridges and Bro. Gil Arthur will officiate.  Interment will follow at Mt. Olive East Cemetery in Mt. Olive, Louisiana.  Visitation will be held November 19, 2021 from 5 to 7 pm at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston.

Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com