Gordon Miles Gray

With love and admiration, we celebrate the remarkable life of Gordon Gray, who passed away peacefully at the Skyline Retirement Community in Seattle on January 18, 2025 at the age of 97. A man of boundless energy, creativity, generosity and deep affection for his family, Gordon lived a life that was as rich in adventure as it was in love.

Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, only child to Miles and Marjorie Gray, Gordon spent his youth surfing, tinkering on his motorcycle and exploring the wonders of O’ahu and the other islands. During World War II, at the age of 14, he witnessed, from the rooftop of a friend’s home, the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The experience left a lasting impression on him and deepened his appreciation for the Hawaiian Islands. Following Gordon’s graduation from Punahou School, he was accepted into the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he rowed on the crew team and graduated with a degree in Engineering.

During his time at the Naval Academy, Gordon met his future love Heli, who was attending Smith College in Massachusetts, majoring in Education. They found much in common, as Heli had also grown up on O’ahu and graduated from Punahou, and their mutual fondness for the Hawaiian Islands ran deep. Gordon and Heli fell in love, and in 1950 were married in Northampton, MA. They soon started a lively family.

As the family grew, Gordon continued his military career by earning his doctorate in Mechanical and Civil Engineering and transferring from the Navy to the burgeoning US Air Force. Then came special training at bases in Texas and California, followed by an assignment in Okinawa, Japan, to aid in the Korean War effort.

Gordon’s next career move brought him to Colorado, where he taught science and engineering at the newly created Air Force Academy. From there, he, Heli and their five children made an exciting move to the lovely city of Baguio, in the Philippines. Gordon considered teaching the sciences to cadets at the Philippine Military Academy and exploring, with his family, the rich culture and beauty of the Philippine Islands true highlights of his military service. As a teacher, scientist and engineer, Gordon had a passion for STEM education, inspiring countless students to explore the wonders of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Short assignments in Tennessee and Alabama followed, preparing Gordon for the final leg of his military career at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. His work with the Department of Defense gave him the opportunity to be a part of cutting-edge projects such as stealth helicopters and jetpacks for soldiers. He served his country with honor and distinction, rising to the rank of Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. His years in the military instilled in him a sense of discipline and service that defined much of his life.

During Gordon’s military career, he and his family made 12 moves in 20 years! With every new assignment, Gordon and Heli made an adventure out of it, exploring cities, monuments, national parks, natural wonders, and the interesting cultures of each locale. An aviator at heart, flying his Lake Amphibian aircraft brought Gordon immense joy and a sense of freedom. But his enthusiasm didn’t stop at the skies. Gordon was a true outdoorsman, embracing hiking, biking, sailing, camping, skiing, scuba diving and leisure travel. He had an insatiable wanderlust, and loved to share with family, friends and students his zest for life and learning, flying and exploring.

Upon Gordon’s retirement from the Air Force in 1970, he and his family followed the call of the Pacific Northwest and moved to Seattle, where Gordon worked at the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Lab as an associate professor and director of both the Office of Plans and Programs and the School of Ocean Engineering. After a prolific career at UW, Gordon and Heli, together, launched into a third career path as business partners, creating two successful residential investment and development LLCs. Ever the innovators, they worked together to design and build their dream home on Lake Washington, which included a built-in “garage” for Gordon’s aircraft and a taxi-way down to the lake!

Gordon never stopped seeking ways to make a difference, even after his retirement from the business world. Together with Heli, he became an early member of the SkiTur Valley forest cabin community in Snoqualmie Pass, and was fundamental in ensuring its future. In his retirement community, he founded a science and technology group that became a hub of intellectual curiosity and learning. He invited fascinating speakers, inspired lively discussions, and continued to ignite the spark of wonder in everyone he met.

Above all, Gordon was a family man. His love for his wife, Heli, his children Douglas, Deborah, Gary, Stanley, Peter and their spouses, his 6 grandchildren and their spouses, and his five great-grandchildren, was the wellspring of his existence. Following the sad passing of Heli in 1997, Gordon’s life, and the lives of his family members, were enriched over the next 27 years by his loving partner, Marie Overturf, and her warm-hearted family.

Gordon had a knack for turning experiences into stories worth telling. A natural jokester, his humor was infectious, and his ability to spin a tale brought joy and laughter to all who had the privilege of listening. Throughout his life, Gordon taught by example, showing us all how to live with courage, kindness, imagination and an open heart. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter and discovery, and will be deeply missed and so fondly remembered. Rest in peace, Gordon. We are forever grateful to have been part of your grand adventure!