Charles "Chuck" Gray

Charles L. “Chuck” Gray, 90, of Owensboro ended his lifelong journey on Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Baptist Health in Lexington. The Eddyville native was born July 14, 1933, to the late Emmett and Etta Gray. Chuck served honorably in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War after which he worked at Carter Mortgage Co. (later Old National Bank), where he was named Supervisor for the State of Kentucky. At age 33, he took the position of Vice President and Manager of the mortgage loan department. Three years later, Chuck opened his own company, Chuck Gray Realtors, and was instrumental in finding locations for Long John Silvers, McDonalds, Captain D’s and other restaurants in the area. As an energetic entrepreneur, Chuck, along with Jim Johnson, opened Noble Romans in Owensboro and Captain D’s in Vincennes, Indiana. He later owned nine nursing homes across Indiana and Kentucky. Not slowing down, he co-owned Athenian Spa and Racket Club on Chuck Gray Court and constructed 150 apartments on Towne Square Court and was eventually involved in the ownership of over 2,000 apartments in the Tri-State. Chuck along with Bill Jagoe developed land and sold lots to Pizza Hut and Captain D’s.

In addition to his business ventures, Chuck was highly active in civic activities including the Evansville Lions Club, Dale Carnegie Alumni Association, Society of Appraisers, and National Association of Credit Men in the Tri-State. He held the offices of Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the Owensboro Board of Realtors being named Realtor of the Year in 1969. Chuck was also Director of the Owensboro Homebuilders Association from 1968-1970. His seemingly boundless energy and involvement included The Family Y, Pop Warner Football, Little League Baseball, Jaycees, Optimist Club, and Chamber of Commerce.

Chuck loved his friends. Some days he would call as many as 10 to 15 people each day just to say hello and ask how things are going. He loved people and loved helping people.

Chuck always gave God the credit for everything good that happened to him, like his “chance” meeting with Pastor Ragwa from Kenya, which lead to the establishment of the Charles L. Gray Foundation. The Foundation has built churches in thirteen countries around the world and his hope for the Foundation was that it will continue and eventually build over one thousand churches with the help of International Cooperating Ministries. 

Chuck had a kind, loving, caring heart that was always there for a friend when needed and his hobby was buying lunches! When younger, he enjoyed sports of all kinds including basketball, track, football, softball, racquetball, ping pong, and in his later years, tennis. Chuck loved to kid people while appearing serious. People were his life. It would require many pages to list all his friends.

In addition to his parents, Chuck also was preceded in death by two sons, Scott and Jeff Gray, his sisters, Myrtle Orange, Marsha Mason, and Imogene Hagan.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving and devoted wife of thirty-two years, Katie Shutts Gray; sons, Dr. Brent Gray (Katrina) of Delray Beach, FL, Christian Kelly (Jaema) of Bloomington, IN, Gavin Kelly (Jennifer) also of Bloomington, Zack Kelly of Mt. Vernon, WA, daughter, Sarah Farley (Mike) of Wilmore; 12 grandchildren, Zach, Brandon, Ashley, Ethan, Jade, Xavier, Caleb, Cole, Caroline, Zoey, Maya, and Juliet; one great grandchild; several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be 2:00 pm Saturday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory with visitation from 11:00 am until the time of the service. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Baptist Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to International Cooperating Ministries at www.ICM.org or Alzheimer’s Association, 701 N Weinbach Ave, Evansville, IN 47711.

Condolences and memories for Chuck’s family may be left at www.glenncares.com.