Clyde M. Gray of 1527 Pine Grove Road, Stanley, Virginia, died peacefully at his home late Wednesday night, October 12, 2017. Clyde was born on September 16, 1929, in Pine Grove, son of the late Carrie Gray Good. He was loved and raised by his grandparents, Henry Milton Gray and Maude Lee Southard Gray.
He attended one of the Pine Grove Schools until fifth grade, and then attended Blue Ridge Christian School near Charlottesville for another three years, leaving there at age 11. In order to maintain his keep there, Clyde was responsible for milking 12 milk cows morning and night. He has been a lifelong member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove. Always a hard worker, Clyde started his work life at the age of 11 (as a dishwasher). He was so scrawny and small that he had to stand on an apple crate to wash the dishes. At 17, he got a “real job” and started at Swift Run Gap with Virginia Skyline Co. in what turned out to be a lifelong career of cooking in Shenandoah National Park. He worked at Swift Run from 1946 until 1948, and then transferred to Skyland, where he worked form 1949 to 1950.
Clyde served our country in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, and was stationed in two separate bases, Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and Fort Leavenworth in Missouri. He often laughed and said that he was willing to go somewhere else, but once they found out he could cook, the sergeant wouldn’t let him leave, saying “the troops here gotta eat too.” He returned in 1953 and went to work at Big Meadows Lodge, where he served as chef for 35 years, retiring in 1987 because of health problems.
On May 25, 1960, he married the love of his life, Helen Jeanetta Thomas, in Page County. Together, they had four children, Garrison F. Shaffer and wife, Anna, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Steven A. Shaffer and wife, Lois, of Luray, Penny R. Gray and husband, Gregory, of Stanley, and daughter, Roxanna S. Gray, deceased.
He is also survived by brother, Rufus Good Jr. of Stanley, VA; brother, Johnnie Gray of Stanley, Va.; sister, Grovene Cave of Luray, Va.; sister, Nancy Aleshire of Luray, Va.; and sister, Mary Rothgeb of Luray, Va. He is preceded in death by brothers, Carol Gray and Albert Gray; and sister, Nellie Turner.
Clyde was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He felt so blessed to have not only their children, but was quick to tell you about his eight grandchildren, Michael S. and Timothy W. Shaffer of Phoenix, Ariz., Patrick Engelkins of Colorado Springs, Colo., Travis S. Gray and Tracy L. Duncan of Clarksville, Tenn., Jared Somers of Lynchburg, Va., Calla M.E. Gray and Tyler C.A. Gray of Stanley, and their seven great-grandchildren, Pierce, Mckenzie and Sydney Engelkins, Trevor and Mark Somers, T.J. and Victoria Duncan and Trinity Reed.
Clyde was a loving person, always willing to share what he had and always willing to offer a helping hand to those in need. He was also a good teacher and enjoyed showing others how to make pies or how to prepare a meal. One of his favorite sayings was “a smile or wave never hurts anybody,” and he lived it, too.
He was an honorary member of the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department, a distinction he earned by his numerous volunteer hours helping with fundraisers. He was also a member of the Rocky Branch Hunt Club, where he cooked (and hunted) for over 50 years. Clyde volunteered and was asked to cook for many area events, including the annual Pioneer Bank Employee Dinner, the Marine Corps Dinner, sponsored by VFW Post 621, Easter Breakfast at the fire department, and served on the fundraising committee for the Stanley Homecoming Committee for many years, alongside his wife, Helen, and friends, Richard and Anna Belle Good. He was not only known for his cooking skills, but his baking skill as well. On Thursday, Oct. 27, 1994, PN&C dubbed him as “The Pie King.” Over the years, Clyde baked thousands of pies for fundraising efforts for different organizations. When people found out that “Clyde’s Pies” were available, they ordered six-plus at a time. It was rare that he baked less than 125 at a time, and he loved it.
Clyde also loved playing cards. He was competitive and had a sharp mind (and most would say sheer good luck!); he enjoyed many wonderful hours spent with Bill, Jimmy, Paul, Lynn, Fred, Bobby, Tom and Steve. They made his life so very happy. Being with them and his family is what gave him the strength to go on. While we will miss his loving smile and good cooking, he is at peace and home with the Lord.
His service will be held at the Bradley Funeral Home on Sunday, October 16, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., where the Rev. Scott Dillard will conduct a formal Episcopal service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a private graveside service held at Beahm’s Chapel Cemetery following the funeral.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove or to Page One in Luray in Clyde’s name.
Services will be conducted under the direction of the Bradley Funeral Home Inc. in Luray, Va.
An obituary was published in the Daily News-Record on Friday, October 14, 2016.
_________________________________________________________________
He attended one of the Pine Grove Schools until fifth grade, and then attended Blue Ridge Christian School near Charlottesville for another three years, leaving there at age 11. In order to maintain his keep there, Clyde was responsible for milking 12 milk cows morning and night. He has been a lifelong member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove. Always a hard worker, Clyde started his work life at the age of 11 (as a dishwasher). He was so scrawny and small that he had to stand on an apple crate to wash the dishes. At 17, he got a “real job” and started at Swift Run Gap with Virginia Skyline Co. in what turned out to be a lifelong career of cooking in Shenandoah National Park. He worked at Swift Run from 1946 until 1948, and then transferred to Skyland, where he worked form 1949 to 1950.
Clyde served our country in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, and was stationed in two separate bases, Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and Fort Leavenworth in Missouri. He often laughed and said that he was willing to go somewhere else, but once they found out he could cook, the sergeant wouldn’t let him leave, saying “the troops here gotta eat too.” He returned in 1953 and went to work at Big Meadows Lodge, where he served as chef for 35 years, retiring in 1987 because of health problems.
On May 25, 1960, he married the love of his life, Helen Jeanetta Thomas, in Page County. Together, they had four children, Garrison F. Shaffer and wife, Anna, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Steven A. Shaffer and wife, Lois, of Luray, Penny R. Gray and husband, Gregory, of Stanley, and daughter, Roxanna S. Gray, deceased.
He is also survived by brother, Rufus Good Jr. of Stanley, VA; brother, Johnnie Gray of Stanley, Va.; sister, Grovene Cave of Luray, Va.; sister, Nancy Aleshire of Luray, Va.; and sister, Mary Rothgeb of Luray, Va. He is preceded in death by brothers, Carol Gray and Albert Gray; and sister, Nellie Turner.
Clyde was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He felt so blessed to have not only their children, but was quick to tell you about his eight grandchildren, Michael S. and Timothy W. Shaffer of Phoenix, Ariz., Patrick Engelkins of Colorado Springs, Colo., Travis S. Gray and Tracy L. Duncan of Clarksville, Tenn., Jared Somers of Lynchburg, Va., Calla M.E. Gray and Tyler C.A. Gray of Stanley, and their seven great-grandchildren, Pierce, Mckenzie and Sydney Engelkins, Trevor and Mark Somers, T.J. and Victoria Duncan and Trinity Reed.
Clyde was a loving person, always willing to share what he had and always willing to offer a helping hand to those in need. He was also a good teacher and enjoyed showing others how to make pies or how to prepare a meal. One of his favorite sayings was “a smile or wave never hurts anybody,” and he lived it, too.
He was an honorary member of the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department, a distinction he earned by his numerous volunteer hours helping with fundraisers. He was also a member of the Rocky Branch Hunt Club, where he cooked (and hunted) for over 50 years. Clyde volunteered and was asked to cook for many area events, including the annual Pioneer Bank Employee Dinner, the Marine Corps Dinner, sponsored by VFW Post 621, Easter Breakfast at the fire department, and served on the fundraising committee for the Stanley Homecoming Committee for many years, alongside his wife, Helen, and friends, Richard and Anna Belle Good. He was not only known for his cooking skills, but his baking skill as well. On Thursday, Oct. 27, 1994, PN&C dubbed him as “The Pie King.” Over the years, Clyde baked thousands of pies for fundraising efforts for different organizations. When people found out that “Clyde’s Pies” were available, they ordered six-plus at a time. It was rare that he baked less than 125 at a time, and he loved it.
Clyde also loved playing cards. He was competitive and had a sharp mind (and most would say sheer good luck!); he enjoyed many wonderful hours spent with Bill, Jimmy, Paul, Lynn, Fred, Bobby, Tom and Steve. They made his life so very happy. Being with them and his family is what gave him the strength to go on. While we will miss his loving smile and good cooking, he is at peace and home with the Lord.
His service will be held at the Bradley Funeral Home on Sunday, October 16, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., where the Rev. Scott Dillard will conduct a formal Episcopal service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a private graveside service held at Beahm’s Chapel Cemetery following the funeral.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove or to Page One in Luray in Clyde’s name.
Services will be conducted under the direction of the Bradley Funeral Home Inc. in Luray, Va.
An obituary was published in the Daily News-Record on Friday, October 14, 2016.
_________________________________________________________________
Clyde M. Gray of 1527 Pine Grove Road, Stanley, Virginia, died peacefully at his home late Wednesday night, October 12, 2017. Clyde was born on September 16, 1929, in Pine Grove, son of the late Carrie Gray Good. He was loved and raised by his grandparents, Henry Milton Gray and Maude Lee Southard Gray.
He attended one of the Pine Grove Schools until fifth grade, and then attended Blue Ridge Christian School near Charlottesville for another three years, leaving there at age 11. In order to maintain his keep there, Clyde was responsible for milking 12 milk cows morning and night. He has been a lifelong member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove. Always a hard worker, Clyde started his work life at the age of 11 (as a dishwasher). He was so scrawny and small that he had to stand on an apple crate to wash the dishes. At 17, he got a “real job” and started at Swift Run Gap with Virginia Skyline Co. in what turned out to be a lifelong career of cooking in Shenandoah National Park. He worked at Swift Run from 1946 until 1948, and then transferred to Skyland, where he worked form 1949 to 1950.
Clyde served our country in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, and was stationed in two separate bases, Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and Fort Leavenworth in Missouri. He often laughed and said that he was willing to go somewhere else, but once they found out he could cook, the sergeant wouldn’t let him leave, saying “the troops here gotta eat too.” He returned in 1953 and went to work at Big Meadows Lodge, where he served as chef for 35 years, retiring in 1987 because of health problems.
On May 25, 1960, he married the love of his life, Helen Jeanetta Thomas, in Page County. Together, they had four children, Garrison F. Shaffer and wife, Anna, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Steven A. Shaffer and wife, Lois, of Luray, Penny R. Gray and husband, Gregory, of Stanley, and daughter, Roxanna S. Gray, deceased.
He is also survived by brother, Rufus Good Jr. of Stanley, VA; brother, Johnnie Gray of Stanley, Va.; sister, Grovene Cave of Luray, Va.; sister, Nancy Aleshire of Luray, Va.; and sister, Mary Rothgeb of Luray, Va. He is preceded in death by brothers, Carol Gray and Albert Gray; and sister, Nellie Turner.
Clyde was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He felt so blessed to have not only their children, but was quick to tell you about his eight grandchildren, Michael S. and Timothy W. Shaffer of Phoenix, Ariz., Patrick Engelkins of Colorado Springs, Colo., Travis S. Gray and Tracy L. Duncan of Clarksville, Tenn., Jared Somers of Lynchburg, Va., Calla M.E. Gray and Tyler C.A. Gray of Stanley, and their seven great-grandchildren, Pierce, Mckenzie and Sydney Engelkins, Trevor and Mark Somers, T.J. and Victoria Duncan and Trinity Reed.
Clyde was a loving person, always willing to share what he had and always willing to offer a helping hand to those in need. He was also a good teacher and enjoyed showing others how to make pies or how to prepare a meal. One of his favorite sayings was “a smile or wave never hurts anybody,” and he lived it, too.
He was an honorary member of the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department, a distinction he earned by his numerous volunteer hours helping with fundraisers. He was also a member of the Rocky Branch Hunt Club, where he cooked (and hunted) for over 50 years. Clyde volunteered and was asked to cook for many area events, including the annual Pioneer Bank Employee Dinner, the Marine Corps Dinner, sponsored by VFW Post 621, Easter Breakfast at the fire department, and served on the fundraising committee for the Stanley Homecoming Committee for many years, alongside his wife, Helen, and friends, Richard and Anna Belle Good. He was not only known for his cooking skills, but his baking skill as well. On Thursday, Oct. 27, 1994, PN&C dubbed him as “The Pie King.” Over the years, Clyde baked thousands of pies for fundraising efforts for different organizations. When people found out that “Clyde’s Pies” were available, they ordered six-plus at a time. It was rare that he baked less than 125 at a time, and he loved it.
Clyde also loved playing cards. He was competitive and had a sharp mind (and most would say sheer good luck!); he enjoyed many wonderful hours spent with Bill, Jimmy, Paul, Lynn, Fred, Bobby, Tom and Steve. They made his life so very happy. Being with them and his family is what gave him the strength to go on. While we will miss his loving smile and good cooking, he is at peace and home with the Lord.
His service will be held at the Bradley Funeral Home on Sunday, October 16, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., where the Rev. Scott Dillard will conduct a formal Episcopal service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a private graveside service held at Beahm’s Chapel Cemetery following the funeral.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove or to Page One in Luray in Clyde’s name.
Services will be conducted under the direction of the Bradley Funeral Home Inc. in Luray, Va.
An obituary was published in the Daily News-Record on Friday, October 14, 2016.
_________________________________________________________________
He attended one of the Pine Grove Schools until fifth grade, and then attended Blue Ridge Christian School near Charlottesville for another three years, leaving there at age 11. In order to maintain his keep there, Clyde was responsible for milking 12 milk cows morning and night. He has been a lifelong member of St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove. Always a hard worker, Clyde started his work life at the age of 11 (as a dishwasher). He was so scrawny and small that he had to stand on an apple crate to wash the dishes. At 17, he got a “real job” and started at Swift Run Gap with Virginia Skyline Co. in what turned out to be a lifelong career of cooking in Shenandoah National Park. He worked at Swift Run from 1946 until 1948, and then transferred to Skyland, where he worked form 1949 to 1950.
Clyde served our country in the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953, and was stationed in two separate bases, Camp McCoy in Wisconsin and Fort Leavenworth in Missouri. He often laughed and said that he was willing to go somewhere else, but once they found out he could cook, the sergeant wouldn’t let him leave, saying “the troops here gotta eat too.” He returned in 1953 and went to work at Big Meadows Lodge, where he served as chef for 35 years, retiring in 1987 because of health problems.
On May 25, 1960, he married the love of his life, Helen Jeanetta Thomas, in Page County. Together, they had four children, Garrison F. Shaffer and wife, Anna, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Steven A. Shaffer and wife, Lois, of Luray, Penny R. Gray and husband, Gregory, of Stanley, and daughter, Roxanna S. Gray, deceased.
He is also survived by brother, Rufus Good Jr. of Stanley, VA; brother, Johnnie Gray of Stanley, Va.; sister, Grovene Cave of Luray, Va.; sister, Nancy Aleshire of Luray, Va.; and sister, Mary Rothgeb of Luray, Va. He is preceded in death by brothers, Carol Gray and Albert Gray; and sister, Nellie Turner.
Clyde was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He felt so blessed to have not only their children, but was quick to tell you about his eight grandchildren, Michael S. and Timothy W. Shaffer of Phoenix, Ariz., Patrick Engelkins of Colorado Springs, Colo., Travis S. Gray and Tracy L. Duncan of Clarksville, Tenn., Jared Somers of Lynchburg, Va., Calla M.E. Gray and Tyler C.A. Gray of Stanley, and their seven great-grandchildren, Pierce, Mckenzie and Sydney Engelkins, Trevor and Mark Somers, T.J. and Victoria Duncan and Trinity Reed.
Clyde was a loving person, always willing to share what he had and always willing to offer a helping hand to those in need. He was also a good teacher and enjoyed showing others how to make pies or how to prepare a meal. One of his favorite sayings was “a smile or wave never hurts anybody,” and he lived it, too.
He was an honorary member of the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department, a distinction he earned by his numerous volunteer hours helping with fundraisers. He was also a member of the Rocky Branch Hunt Club, where he cooked (and hunted) for over 50 years. Clyde volunteered and was asked to cook for many area events, including the annual Pioneer Bank Employee Dinner, the Marine Corps Dinner, sponsored by VFW Post 621, Easter Breakfast at the fire department, and served on the fundraising committee for the Stanley Homecoming Committee for many years, alongside his wife, Helen, and friends, Richard and Anna Belle Good. He was not only known for his cooking skills, but his baking skill as well. On Thursday, Oct. 27, 1994, PN&C dubbed him as “The Pie King.” Over the years, Clyde baked thousands of pies for fundraising efforts for different organizations. When people found out that “Clyde’s Pies” were available, they ordered six-plus at a time. It was rare that he baked less than 125 at a time, and he loved it.
Clyde also loved playing cards. He was competitive and had a sharp mind (and most would say sheer good luck!); he enjoyed many wonderful hours spent with Bill, Jimmy, Paul, Lynn, Fred, Bobby, Tom and Steve. They made his life so very happy. Being with them and his family is what gave him the strength to go on. While we will miss his loving smile and good cooking, he is at peace and home with the Lord.
His service will be held at the Bradley Funeral Home on Sunday, October 16, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., where the Rev. Scott Dillard will conduct a formal Episcopal service. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday, October 15, 2016, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be a private graveside service held at Beahm’s Chapel Cemetery following the funeral.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. George’s Episcopal Church in Pine Grove or to Page One in Luray in Clyde’s name.
Services will be conducted under the direction of the Bradley Funeral Home Inc. in Luray, Va.
An obituary was published in the Daily News-Record on Friday, October 14, 2016.
_________________________________________________________________
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