Michael Gray

Michael Gray, age 54, of Blue Ridge, passed away Sunday, December 19, 2021, at his home.

Michael was born March 15, 1967, in Ellijay, Georgia, to the late Raleigh Clifford and Marylene Gray. He was a 1985 graduate of Fannin County High School. He began working at Imerys Marble, formerly known as Georgia Marble, in February of 1986 and worked there as a Bulk Loading and Utility Manager until April of 2020, when he became disabled due to a brain-stem stroke. Michael was an avid outdoorsman enjoying hunting, fishing, hiking, swimming and camping. He also enjoyed attending NASCAR Races with friends and visiting amusement parks with his family.

Michael was happiest when he was spending time with his girls and his family. He was well known for his outgoing personality, his willingness to help others and his dedicated love for his family. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Denny Gray and Frank Gray; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Buddy and Doris Newberry.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Donna Newberry Gray, of the home; three daughters and their spouses, Jerrica and Chase Green, Michaela and Tyler Limburg and Emily Gray and fiancée, Dalton Tankersley, all of Blue Ridge; brothers and sisters-in-law, Cecil and Tricia Gray, of Douglasville, Georgia, Jerrell and Lisa Gray, of Ringgold, Georgia, Jeff and Jackie Gray, of Ball Ground, Georgia; sisters and brother-in-law, Ruth and Joel Jordan, of Blue Ridge, and Janice Anderson, of Canton, Georgia; sisters-in-law, Betty Gray, of Blue Ridge,and Carol Gray, of Blairsville, Georgia; brother-in-law, Philip Newberry, of Blue Ridge; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday, December 22, 2021, at 1 p.m. from the Akins Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Harold Meherg officiating.

Interment followed in the Chastain Memorial Park Cemetery with the following gentlemen serving as pallbearers: Randall McGill, Lewis Chambers, Clayton Chambers, Terrell Ramsey, Danny Gray, Kurt Becken, Gary Harper and Mark Gray. Honorary pallbearers were James McGill, Trey Wilson, Kevin Franklin, Rev. Roger Elliott, Keith Nicholson, Jerrod Curtis, Ben Jordan and Ritchie Walker.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinsfuneralhome.com.

Akins Funeral Home, of Blue Ridge, was in charge of the arrangements.